Among the four seasons we enjoy in our State of Michigan, Summer is a beautiful season. It’s beautiful in so many ways: gorgeous sunshine, clear blue skies, awesome lakes. It’s a great time of camping and family gatherings, picnics, relaxation and rest. In this hectic world of ours where everyone is racing against the clock, some leisure is not a luxury but a necessity. “come away by ourselves into a lonely place, and rest a while.” With these words, Jesus invites the apostles to get away from the routine ministry, to rest, to relax, to recoup and to recharge their batteries! The apostles were inundated pastorally, “for there were so many coming and going that they needed a break”. So, Jesus arranges a picnic as they get into a boat to a remote place where they could be by themselves.

 Friends, we are caught up every day in a whirlpool of work. We have so many things to do that even twenty-four hours do not seem to be enough. It is said in the Scripture: “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation, a time for giving birth, a time for dying, a time for planting.” (Eccles 3:1-2). Amidst all our activities, cares and worries, if we find a little time for reflection and mediation, we shall be more happy, relaxed, taking the word of the Lord to heart: “Come, and rest for a while.” Yes, in the midst of our hectic activities we need time for rest. We cannot do good work unless we have time to rest.

On this Sunday Jesus invites us to leave the relentless wheel of routine, our punishing schedules, and retreat to a remote place.  Without this remote place our lives are in danger; we become workaholics. In modern societies marked by ‘hurry and worry’ we have to take time off and be with God so that He may recharge us with spiritual energy and strength. To receive this strength, we need time for prayer, silence and recollection. The ministry of Jesus was born in this remote place. He retired into the hills spending the whole night in prayer, went into the desert withdrawing into silence and solitude, rose long before dawn and spent time alone with the Alone.

Ask yourselves on this Sunday: Do I take some time to have my yearly retreat and regain my spiritual strength? 

     I am Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC from Andhra Pradesh, in the Southern part of India. Let me give you a short history of my life. I grew up in a beautiful state called Andhra Pradesh, Guntur region of India, which is known for its education and cultivation of rice, chilly and cotton. I am the fifth of seven children of Mrs. Mary Sunamdalu Battu and the Late Sebastian Battu. My parents are farmers. Unfortunately, I lost my father at the age of 14. I did my elementary school from 1^st to 5^th at home. Then my parents placed me in the boarding run by the Pallottine Fathers for further studies. I stayed there from 6th to 10^th in the Pallottine boarding and successfully completed my studies. Those 5 years were crucial for my vocation to the Priesthood. The Pallottine Priests, their ministry, the Charism of the Society really inspired me to become  a servant in the vineyard of the Lord. I fulfilled my childhood dream of joining the Seminary. For thirteen years I studied at different stages of formation in the Pallottine Seminary.

I was ordained a priest for the ‘Society of the Catholic Apostolate’ on April 17^th, 2008. I served as associate pastor as well as in-charge of boarding during my first assignment. I had many great opportunities to serve people in mission places, where I was brought up. It was a very satisfying ministry to serve people at these missions. After my first year of service, I was asked to be an administrator of the Millennium Residential High School, where I served as such for three years. It was a wonderful opportunity to take care of the physical and spiritual needs of the children who were in residence with us. At the same time, I also taught the children in the seventh grade and assisted the neighborhood diocesan parish with the Sacraments.

I arrived in Michigan in November of 2012 and was stationed here at St. Valentine parish for six months. Then, I was fortunate to be appointed as associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Livonia for three years. It really exposed me to different apostolates. Later I was transferred to St. Joseph Parish, in Lake Orion for two years. It has been an amazing experience here in a great parish. I had great experiences working at St. Joseph’s. And now I am so grateful to God for the opportunity to come back to St. Valentine and share the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very glad to be here to share with you the hope, joy and love of God with all of you.

God bless you all.

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC