https://barbarasut.wordpress.com/ said it first in a comment on Tuesday:

“Don’t look back! There’s a whole, wide wonderful world outside the classroom for you to discover and contribute to. As a former teacher you have a lot of talents to share should you decide to do so. Welcome to the world of retirement!”

Now, thanks to Pope Francis’ homily the next day, I have a Latin phrase to encapsulate the essence of the blogger’s encouragement:

“Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!”

Pope Francis shared those words during his homily delivered in the context of the Canonization Mass for Fr. J. Serra, whose lived motto those words were.

When I heard those words emphasized by the Holy Father, spoken to each of us, I thought, too, of what Jesus had said about following through with a life’s commitment:

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Inasmuch as St. Serra is patron of vocations, no matter what the state of life, let us ask his intercession for us, especially those of us in retirement.

May we use fruitfully the time, energy, and opportunity given us in this graced time of our lives.

“Don’t look back!”

“Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!”

Where are you headed? What commitments to service will you continue or initiate in retirement?