April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
What I did on my summer vacation
This year, my get-away was extra special because my husband Joe and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on the trip. There was no itinerary and no particular plans. We drove to Kennebunkport and rented a room at the Franciscan Guest House, an affordable and comfortable hotel on the grounds of St. Anthony's Monastery, run by the Franciscan Friars.
The best part about the place is its location: right on the Kennebunk River, with great views of the harbor and all the boating activity in and out. It has acres of walking paths, woodlands, shrines, chapels, gardens, a pool, a Catholic gift shop and daily Mass. It is literally a vacation for body and soul.
The monastery and grounds were purchased in 1947 by Lithuanian Franciscans, and the Lithuanian influence is everywhere. It's in the architecture of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the graceful art of the chapel of the Stations of the Cross; it's in the massive sculpture of the Militant, Suffering and Triumphant Church, the same one that adorned the Vatican Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair (I'll bet I saw it there when I was a mere toddler).
It's even in the food: The traditional Lithuanian potato pudding was a delicious staple at breakfast each morning. (Did I mention the Guest House serves an expansive free continental breakfast, and a hot breakfast for a mere $3 donation?)
The Franciscan Guest House is a 10-minute walk to Kennebunk Beach. We went there early in the morning to comb the sand for seashells and driftwood. We went there at dusk to revere the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean. The weather was picture-perfect, and the beach was never crowded.
In the opposite direction, the Guest House is a 10-minute walk to the tourist shops in Kennebunkport. We indulged at our favorite homemade ice cream stand and bought each other gifts that we would never have purchased at home. For our anniversary dinner, we ate at a fine restaurant right on the river; everything from the salad to dessert was exquisite.
Joe and I rented bicycles and rode them out to Cape Porpoise, where we watched the lobstermen haul in their traps. We enjoyed a cocktail cruise out of Perkins Cove; Joe appreciated the rollercoaster-like thrills of the bumpy water while I simply appreciated the cocktails. We drove out to Walker's Point to see former President George H. W. Bush's family estate. The views are fabulous! We shopped, dined, strolled and relaxed.
Now that the kids are grown and we no longer pack the beach balls and boogie boards, vacation is, more than anything else, a time to pause. It felt refreshing - cleansing - to stop, breathe deeply, pray and appreciate God's wonders all around me.
It was an opportunity to really listen and let the Holy Spirit in. I'm usually so busy yakking that I fail to take the time to hear God's voice. It's an opportunity no one should miss.
We are back to reality now. The mortgage payment is due, the car needs a tuneup and my email box is overloaded. Our youngest son needs assistance in his college transfer process while our oldest needs help moving into his first apartment. Meanwhile, the kitchen, the garden and the laundry are all competing for my attention.
But all is well. My body and soul are rested. I feel strengthened and better able to take care of others because I have taken care of myself.
If you are interested in a relaxing and relatively inexpensive trip to the coast of Maine, I highly recommend the Franciscan Guest House. I suspect they are full up for this summer, but maybe not - and autumn is a lovely time of year.
(Mrs. Gallagher is director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the state's bishops. See www.nyscatholic.org. Contact the Franciscan Guest House at 207-967-4865 or www.franciscanguesthouse.com,or see their ads in The Evangelist.)[[In-content Ad]]
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