By Sarah E. Albanese • Posted August 6, 2026

This is the time in the summer when many families start to look ahead to the upcoming school year. This year marks a new milestone for our family.  At the end of August, our oldest is starting his college journey. As we collect items for his college dorm and look ahead to move-in day there is a sense that this event will mark a significant change for our family.

Just as Jesus taught and formed His disciples, we have spent 18 years with our son who is now being sent out. We helped prepare him for his sacraments of first Communion and confirmation and attended weekly Mass together as a family. We have walked with him through his joys and struggles while encouraging him to explore his interests in art, sports and travel.

As a family we have had many conversations about our responsibility as Christians to share our gifts and talents with others. For the past two summers, he has been able to share his love of soccer with youth who attend a local Missionaries of Charity camp in Chester. A month ago, he participated in a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) mission trip in Belize.

He came back excited to share his experiences and was convicted of the fact that the Catholic life is meant to be lived in community and service to others. These experiences have helped to shape him as a young man. We pray that this enthusiasm for service will continue as he steps onto his college campus.

As Catholic parents we often worry that once our children are on their own they will lose their faith or become lost in the secular culture. There comes a time, however, when we must allow our children to discover how they will live out their unique calling.

We are hopeful that they will go out and be light in what can be a dark world. We pray that they know we are always here for them, but now their journey of faith is one that they must freely choose.

Just like any of us, our children will stumble and fall and maybe choose the wayward path, but we pray that they will pick themselves up and return to Jesus. We pray that they cross paths with people who want to walk with them on their journey of faith.

The Christian life does not ask us to shield our children from the world. We are called to send them out so that they too can go on mission in a world that so desperately needs Christ. Jesus calls us all to be missionaries when He says: “go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15).

As these lazy days of summer come to a close and we prepare our families for going back to school, work or new routines we ask for God to help us accept change and new beginnings with a sense of gratitude.

When my husband and I drive away after move-in day, we will pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our son and all young adults who are embarking on a new chapter in their life. May they boldly go out and proclaim the Gospel to all the ends of the Earth!

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Sarah E. Albanese is a mother of five and a parishioner at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media. She also leads a mother’s ministry in Delaware County.