Tag Archives: Fr. Jeff Lewis

Memorial Day Weekend 2025

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It was the perfect Memorial Day weekend.

It was the perfect kickoff to the summer for our family. This is Beau and Sloan at Riverfront Park enjoying the Spokane Falls.

Although we never left Spokane, the four of us had a fun-filled yet also relaxing few days off. Thanks to incredible weather and two well-behaved children (because you never know), I don’t think we could have asked for a better start to summer. In order to save these memories for years to come, here are some of the big picture highlights from each day.

It was a hot weekend and luckily Beau and Sloan not only got along but they helped each other out.

Friday – We celebrated the weekend’s kickoff with an evening out. The four of us went to Burger King for dinner as the kids donned the restaurant’s paper crowns. After stocking up on candy from Dollar Tree, we went to the movie theater to watch the new “Lilo and Stitch” movie. It wasn’t bad! But it really didn’t matter the quality of the film at that point because at multiple times I remember just feeling so content sitting in the comfortable chairs sipping on a cold Coke with my family by my side.

Beau and Sloan right outside of the theater before going inside to watch “Lilo and Stitch.”

Saturday – With Sidney working in the yard, I took Sloan and Beau to Avista Stadium for the 5 p.m. Spokane Indians vs. Tri-City Dust Devils baseball game. It was Disney Princess Night and since I made sure we arrived right when the gates opened at 4 p.m., the kids got to meet all four princesses before lines formed (view photos). They also got to do all the activities in the Kids Zone without waiting. As for the game, we ate ballpark food and cheered on the Indians as they dropped a close one, 3-2. After the game, Sloan and Beau had the opportunity to go on the field and run around the bases.

Hanging with Sloan and Beau at Avista Stadium.

Sunday – This was the hottest day of the weekend so naturally we spent a lot of time outside…at three different parks. We started off at Riverfront Park where the kids played on the red wagon, admired the Spokane Falls, and climbed on the Ice Age Playground (view photos). We then went to Orchard Park where members of our Catholic Adult Group met and we celebrated Fr. Jeff Lewis’ 14th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. From there we zipped over to Browns Park where we met my parents for an evening picnic. The park was filled with activity and as I drank a beer while watching Beau play near the splash pad, I thought, summer is here.

Beau and Sloan hanging with out on the red wagon in Riverfront Park.

Monday – After a very busy three days, we used Memorial Day to hang at home. The kids watched their devices while Sid and I watched Dateline. But the signature activity of the day was later that night when the four of us gathered in the living room for one last hurrah. We ate Otter Pops and watched “Wicked.” Although Sid and Sloan went to the theater to watch it originally, they had no problem watching it again with me. I will share my reaction to the film in my next Thursday Rundown.

On Monday night we ate Otter Pops and watched “Wicked.”

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I hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend. If the past few days provide any indication of how the rest of the summer will play out, I think we will have a lot of fun in store. Don’t Blink.

Habemus Papam: Introducing Pope Leo XIV

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WHITE SMOKE.

It didn’t matter if you were Catholic or not—on Thursday, it seemed like everyone on the planet was captivated by these two words. Once the College of Cardinals made a papal decision and the smoke conveyed the good news, you couldn’t escape the phrase: it resided on breaking news tickers of all stations, screamed in all-caps on social media, and filled up text message chains.

After the initial adrenaline rush and hysteria from just seeing the white smoke, attention started to shift to the monumental question: WHO?

I don’t think I need to fill much of this space with the pleasant shock I felt when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the next pope. I shared the same sentiment as pretty much every other Catholic…surprise. This line is cliché by now, but I too didn’t think I would ever live to see an American pope. But here we are.

Count me all-in when it comes to the papacy of Pope Leo XIV! I am optimistic and excited for the direction of his holy leadership. Let me share three quick tidbits surrounding his selection…

I am excited for the papacy of Pope Leo XIV.

– Initially, you hear commentators proclaim that Pope Leo XIV is a moderate. I dislike using political terms to describe leadership tendencies of the Bishop of Rome so let me paraphrase it in a different way: I think the new pope is going to make the Church even stronger by uniting the faithful to a degree we haven’t seen in 20 years.

– It has been surreal for me to realize just how…umm…American that Pope Leo XIV is. I can go back to when he was Cardinal/Bishop Prevost and watch clips of him talking in plain English. I can view news reports featuring his siblings—ordinary American people—talking about an extraordinary disciple of Christ. I can scope out past social media posts, learn about his favorite Chicago teams, and research his time at Villanova. Pope Leo XIV simply hits very close to home…what a blessing!

– Speaking of blessings, I had the good fortune of benefiting from the insight and expertise of my pastor, Fr. Jeff Lewis, before/during/after the announcement of Pope Leo. When the white smoke was spotted, the Signal group I am part of with some of my best friends and Fr. Jeff started to blow up. After our initial excitement, we deferred to our priest as he took us through the proceedings, provided us background on Pope Leo, and offered his observations about the new pope’s initial choices and preferences (name, speech, clothing, etc.). It was enlightening and very much appreciated.

Pope Leo XIV made a great impression when he addressed the faithful who packed St. Peter Square.

But can I make a confession (pun intended)? Although I was so excited about the selection of Pope Leo XIV, I think I walked away from last week feeling even better about the way that Catholicism was truthfully and elegantly presented. Every single news station and media organization devoted wall-to-wall coverage of the conclave. And what did you see?…

You saw the true global reach of the Church. You marveled at the thousands upon thousands of devout people who filled St. Peter’s Square. You were touched by the joyous live reactions inside Catholic school classrooms when Pope Leo XIV was announced. You observed a diverse College of Cardinals comprised of holy clergy members from all corners of the earth. You sensed…perhaps even boldly felt…the billions of prayers being lifted up for Pope Leo and the Church in general. You were awed by the authentic faith in Christ that was on constant display.

What you saw was a large, passionate, faithful Church. It was simply a profound week for the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world—this blogger included.

As the papacy of Pope Leo XIV begins in earnest, let us pray for holy and humble leadership that leads us all closer to Jesus Christ. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2025

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This Easter 2025 post is dedicated to Pope Francis. What a witness he was during this past Lent. He suffered greatly but was rewarded with one final Easter. Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Easter was late this year so perhaps that made yesterday even a little sweeter. After a challenging but much-needed Lent, we used this past Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As always, Easter Sunday is a very special day for my family so I make it a point to document it. Here is a look at how the Resers celebrated Easter 2025…

Easter Sunday started at our house with Sloan and Beau in hot pursuit of possible Easter treats. They arose at 6:30 a.m. and navigated their way downstairs where they found what they were looking for. There might have even been a smaller Easter treat arrangement for yours truly from the Sid Bunny.

Beau and Sloan hold their Easter baskets.

The most significant part of our day came at 9 a.m. when we attended Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church. The sanctuary was packed as Fr. Jeff Lewis presided and proclaimed that the empty tomb was the most welcome and triumphant site that Christians could have hoped for. After attending all the rich masses and services of Holy Week, including last night’s powerful Easter Vigil, the Easter Sunday mass was so fulfilling and encompassing.

Sloan and Beau pose for a photo inside the vestibule of St. Mary Catholic Church in Spokane Valley prior to Easter Sunday mass.

After mass we headed to the reception in the church gym. We sat with our good friends, the Andrades, and savored Jesus’ victory over death. Everything about the beautiful reception—including an elaborate photo backdrop—screamed the handiwork of Marie Bricher.

Our family posed for a photo in front of the backdrop in the St. Mary gym after mass.

We then came home to enjoy the late morning/early afternoon of Easter. While the kids hung out downstairs with their Easter candy and new games, Sid and I retreated upstairs to watch “The Chosen.” With the significance of Easter, the season 4 episodes we watched just seemed to hit even harder than usual.

Walking through the St. Mary parking lot on Easter morning.

Next, we headed over to my parents’ house for our Easter celebration. My siblings and their families also joined us as we rejoiced in the resurrection of our Lord. We shared a delicious ham meal and had some pretty entertaining dinner table conversation.

Delicious food and great conversation at the Reser Easter dinner table.

With our bellies full, we tried to burn some of those calories by staging the annual Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt (watch video here). It was once again a competitive affair that saw a new participant this year—11-month-old cousin Olivia.

The Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt participants after all the eggs were found.

Any calories that were burned from the hunt were promptly added back on with dessert. We gathered in the living room and kitchen to eat a brownie whipped pie and lemon blueberry cake. Conversation and bonding continued to take place during dessert and well beyond it.

Conversations in my parents’ living room lasted long beyond the dessert was consumed.

At a little before 8 p.m., we started the 34-minute drive home. Once we arrived at the house, we started to prepare for the week ahead while still feeling extremely thankful for the greatest gift ever given.

Rejoice! He is risen.

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On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski challenged us to look in the spiritual mirror. If we didn’t like what we saw, he questioned, could we improve that reflection by Easter? Much in the same way that you can take measures to improve your physical reflection, the same idea holds true for the spiritual reflection. Taking the Lenten season to pray, fast, and give alms results in spiritual reflection growth. Do I see any positive changes in my own spiritual reflection after Lent 2025? Sure, some. Is it enough? Hardly!  Thanks be to God that the Easter season lasts for 50 days and provides plenty more time to improve that reflection. Rejoice my friends, He is risen! Don’t Blink.

Easter 2024
Easter 2023
Easter 2022
Easter 2021
Easter 2020
Easter 2019
Easter 2018

Lent 2025: Looking Into The Spiritual Mirror

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Lent is now upon us as Ash Wednesday arrives a bit later than usual this year. The one advantage of Lent starting in March is that it gives us more time to reflect on our personal and familial Lenten plans for this 40+-day holy season. And trust me, that’s a good thing, because Lent isn’t exactly something you want to “wing.”

Lent 2025 is a great time to look in your spiritual mirror.

This past Sunday, one of our priests at St. Mary put the necessity of Lent in a very helpful perspective. Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski, our priest-in-residence, suggested that Ash Wednesday is the perfect time to look ourselves in the spiritual mirror. He cautioned that we might not like what we see but at least we have the opportunity to improve that reflection before Easter.

When I meditated on Fr. Mike’s analogy, it made perfect sense to me. How often do we look in our bathroom mirror and not like what we see? I have the feeling that I am not the only one who is sometimes less than pleased. But a thorough and honest look can spark motivation to improve. This improvement can usually be attained through exercise, eating better, and getting more sleep.

When we look into the spiritual mirror, we can be shocked at the hypocrisy, anger, and lack of faith that stares back at us. How do we get back into better faith shape? Through the most effective formula there is—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Thankfully, Lent provides the perfect length of time to steer us back onto the road of holiness by embracing those three pillars.

Sloan and I after attending the school Ash Wednesday mass in February 2024. .

Fr. Jeff Lewis, our pastor at St. Mary, once preached that Lent is like boot camp. It serves as an intensive way to get back on track. However, after boot camp ends, we can’t be lazy again and allow our training to go out the window. We still have to work hard at it.

As we prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, I am going to do what I can to get into better spiritual shape. By the time April 20 rolls around, I hope to see much improvement when I look into that mirror and I also hope to have the endurance to continue onward. Don’t Blink.

Past Lenten Blog Posts
Pursuing the Best Reward
Lent 2024: Ash Wednesday Over Valentine’s Day
General Lenten Points of Emphasis
Lent 2023: A Necessary Time
Lent 2022: Solidarity With Ukraine
The Lenten Road
The Journey of Lent
The Real Purpose of Lent

2024: Making Moves

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It was a questionable start. On January 1, I attended mass at St. Paschal Catholic Church. As Fr. Kevin Oiland chanted the Eucharistic prayer, a point in the mass that requires the faithful to be dialed in and reverent, I couldn’t take it anymore. Asking God for his forgiveness, I did the unthinkable and dashed out of the service.

I was sick.

The rest of my New Year’s Day was spent in bed or at the toilet throwing up. It was quite the miserable way to begin 2024 and I couldn’t shake what it might mean for the remaining 365 days (leap year) to follow. I wondered aloud to Sidney: Hopefully this isn’t an omen for the rest of the year…

Thankfully, it wasn’t.

2024 has been a blessed year for our family.

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I always say that even-numbered years bring about more change and surprises for my family than odd-numbered years. In 2024, this observation held true once again, at least from a professional standpoint. Duties, habits, commutes, and school drop-off routines were dramatically altered when I accepted the director of marketing position with Eastern Washington University.

But aside from that somewhat major development, the rest of our year was pretty low key. How low key? Consider that our family, at least up through yesterday, didn’t get on an airplane once nor did we visit any other state besides neighboring Idaho. Despite the lack of travel, we still managed to stay busy…

In January, Sloan figured a new way to generate revenue when she lost her first tooth. Speaking of my first-born, the next month Sloan asked me for the third-straight year to be her date at the St. Mary daddy-daughter dance. Also in February, Beau celebrated his fourth birthday with a Bluey-themed party and a few weeks later, Sid and I would present at our first Engaged Encounter retreat. Spring arrived and Beau played t-ball while Sloan hit the soccer field again. A Taylor Swift-themed birthday party for a certain 7-year-old was epically pulled off by Sidney. A new niece arrived in May when my brother and sister-in-law welcomed their first child, Olivia.

In January, Sloan lost her first tooth!

As is typically the case, things sped up during the second half of the year. A trip to Walla Walla to celebrate my aunt’s 60th birthday in June unofficially kicked off our summer. Wedding season also commenced this month as multiple couples Sid and I mentored entered into the sacrament of holy matrimony. Our family made memories volunteering at Hoopfest. In July, Sid’s parents visited from South Carolina and had their stay happily extended due to the CrowdStrike snafu. When the month ended, so did my employment with Washington State University. I would begin at EWU on August 1. After working my first week, we took a family vacation to Leavenworth. The fall was filled with festivals, galas, and birthday parties. Thanksgiving and Christmas were both celebrated with my family but the year is ending in South Carolina as the kids were given a surprise trip to visit “Gami and Dada” in South Carolina.

Sid’s parents visited us in July.

So that is the quick two-paragraph rundown of the events of 2024 but what about the themes? I am glad you asked. I can pinpoint two…

The first theme is emergence. Sid and I “put ourselves out there” by leading retreats and honing our public speaking skills. From a work perspective, taking a higher level job and overseeing more people also took a leap of faith. Sloan’s bravery increased as she became more comfortable in the water and fearless when it came to thrill rides. Beau shook off nerves and competed on his first sports team.

Sidney presenting at the March 1-3 Engaged Encounter weekend while Fr. Pat Kerst and Joe Schroeder look on.

We also faced disruption in 2024. As I mentioned earlier, our solid routines were turned upside down when I changed jobs. Sidney and I pretty much flip-flopped the household/kid duties we championed for the past couple years. It was tough at times but we managed and are now relatively comfortable with our roles. While we faced our own personal disruption, the nation was simultaneously facing its own. The presidential election was bitter and it polarized Americans. I followed the race extremely closely and was shocked when President-Elect Trump cruised to an 86-point Electoral College landslide victory over Kamala Harris.

Taking a job at Eastern Washington University caused some major adjustments to our daily routines and how we care for the kids.

In addition to those two unique themes of 2024, the same three values I highlight every year continued to be key for the Resers…

It all starts with family. With the four of us pretty much staying put this year, we had lots of time to spend together. Our house was a refuge as we spent lots of time reading, baking, and praying inside it. We cheered each other on at sporting events, volunteered together, and explored our Spokane community. A couple road trips resulted in precious bonding and our vacation to Leavenworth provided us with memories we will always hold dear. The Summer Olympics captivated our household and gave us hours of entertainment in which we learned about competition, the world, and pride for our country. Holidays, family dinners, and watch parties for my extended family became a tad more crowded this year. My niece, Olivia, was born in May but don’t worry—my parents had no issue finding extra room to accommodate the Reser family’s newest addition 😂. Sidney’s family also added a new face with nephew Patrick! I couldn’t be happier that Sid and the kids are spending time with him and everyone else in Myrtle Beach as this year comes to a close.

Sloan and Beau meet Olivia for the first time.

When it comes to our faith, it was another solid year. There might not be a greater blessing than sending our kids to the school that is connected to our parish. I’ll tell you what, Jesus was spot on when he lauded the purity of a child’s faith. It seems like each day that Sloan and Beau attend St. Mary School, they come home and teach me something about the bible or saints. Speaking of saints, Sloan was named a Future Saint of the Week in 2024. She also served as a lector, attended Catholic Summer Camp, and spoke of her faith development in the St. Mary promotional video. As a family we made a pilgrimage to the St. Francis of Assisi crèche in Spokane, attended every St. Mary Family Faith Night we could, and served as greeters at mass. Sid and I continued to grow with our Young Adult Catholic group, mentored more engaged couples for marriage, and presented at Engaged Encounter retreats. We celebrated the 13th ordination of Fr. Jeff Lewis, said goodbye to Fr. Kevin Oiland, and collaborated with Fr. Pat Kerst. Although I still continue to ask God every night to increase my faith, I feel I am making progress thanks in large part because of those I have around me.

My brother and I receive a blessing from Fr. David Gaines right outside of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral during Bloomsday 2024.

Because of my supportive family and a strong faith, it allows Sid and me to pursue our careers with zeal. I couldn’t be prouder of the year my wife had with Traveler’s Insurance. She led multiple teams of international customer service employees, helped launch brand new software, participated in the company’s 24-hour Innovation Jam, and added so much to the daily workplace culture. I split my year between two great public Washington higher ed institutions. At WSU, my strategy to revamp our YouTube presence and the effort I led to recognize our system’s top graduating seniors earned award recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). I was also proud of the #CougCounties social media campaign I introduced that spanned the state of Washington. At EWU I played a role in our brand evolution, assisted with the launch of our comprehensive fundraising campaign, and produced our holiday video. Over the past 12 months, the accomplishments at both universities were made possible by empowering bosses and talented team members.

Just like at WSU, when I started at EWU, I was connected with some awesome colleagues. This photo is of our film crew for the holiday video (L-R: Luke Kenneally, Sean Nelms, Me, Ginny Baxter).

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Wow, have I gone on long enough? I think so. But what do you expect? Like I said in my first blog post of the year, 2024 was an “every four years type of year.” As we lived our busy lives, a slate of 12 months highlighted by an extra day, the Summer Olympics, and a Presidential Election transpired in the background. It was a lot.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year a great one for my family.

As 2024 comes to a close, I am thankful for the many fruits yielded over the past 365 days (with the 366th day coming tomorrow). I am also mindful of the sorrows. Sidney lost her Uncle Tony and although he was mostly out of my family’s picture for the past 23 years, my Uncle Cliff passed away earlier this month. With 2025 almost here, let’s pray for health and peace. Thank you to my readers for an awesome year and I will see you all on the other side of the ball dropping. Don’t Blink.

Latin Lesson From Sloan

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Yesterday afternoon, Sloan and I were running errands. As we pulled out of the grocery store parking lot, we started talking about death. Don’t worry, our conversation wasn’t completely random. Earlier that morning, Fr. Jeff Lewis preached about the squirm-inducing topic as he covered its origin, inevitability, and earthly aftermath (the funeral).

As we chatted, Sloan admitted that death was a difficult concept for her but that she is doing her best to embrace memento mori.

Memento what?

Thanks to Sloan, I learned about “memento mori.” We need to remember death.

I didn’t expect a Latin lesson from my 7-year-old daughter (thanks, St. Mary Catholic School!). I had Sloan explain what it meant in her own words and then I feverishly looked it up once we arrived home. Memento mori translates to remember your death in English. In the context of Catholicism, it is a reminder to anticipate and meditate on our own deaths. By practicing memento mori, we can prepare for the reality that we all face while living a life that will put us in the best position for God’s judgment.

Tough stuff, right? If you are like me, memento mori can be a difficult topic to grapple with, especially when you encounter it head-on late at night. But just because something is difficult or seemingly unpleasant doesn’t make it unnecessary to examine.

This month is an opportune time to contemplate memento mori. In the Catholic Church, we use November to contemplate our own mortality while also remembering the faithfully departed. As part of the “Month of Remembrance,” we place a special emphasis on those souls in Purgatory and pray even more intensely for them. Thus, I think by remembering those who have gone before us and praying for them, we can become more in touch with our own memento mori journey.

Visiting a cemetery this month is a great way to practice memento mori and to remember/pray for souls.

Death is scary but it is also inevitable. Thankfully, death is also a glorious and necessary step toward salvation. Memento mori! Don’t Blink.

Garth Thursday Rundown

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Here in the Inland Northwest, we have transitioned from hot temperatures in 90s to more early autumn-like temperatures in the 70s. With school now in session and football in full swing, it seems about right. You know what else seems about right? Five random topics on a Thursday…

Garth – At the end of August, Garth Fritel passed away (read obituary). This man was afflicted with ALS but still managed to live a fulfilling life centered on his family and faith. Garth embraced his debilitating disease as his cross and inspired so many (including myself—I wrote this post in 2022) by his love for Christ. Those of us who attended mass with Garth will never forget how he gave all his strength to receive the Holy Eucharist via syringe at every opportunity. I am grateful I had to chance to say goodbye to Garth and thank him for increasing my faith. Please pray for Garth’s soul and for his wife, Adeline, and daughters, Tovah and Daphne. May eternal rest be grant unto Garth, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Garth is pictured with his two daughters, his wife, Fr. Lewis, our St. Mary formation director, and NCR’s Kevin Wells (this photo is courtesy of Kevin Wells).

Fr. Jeff Sketch – I have written extensively about how our parish priest, Fr. Jeff Lewis, enriches our family in faith and friendship. Both of our children love him dearly. This photo is from this past weekend at the home of our friends. Sloan drew a portrait of Fr. Jeff and presented it to him for his approval. I don’t know if he was impressed…

Sloan reveals her sketch to Fr. Jeff Lewis.

Evacuate! – I could handle the humidity and rain of South Carolina, but the hurricanes sure got old. Every year I lived in the South, there was always a major storm that threatened our area. However, there was only one that caused us to evacuate. On this date six years ago, we packed up (Sid, 1-year-old Sloan, and me) and drove to Jacksonville where we stayed at Sid’s aunt’s house for a few days. We made the best of a stressful situation as we visited Disney Land, went to the zoo, and caught up with Sid’s cousin.

When we evacuated to Jacksonville because of Hurricane Florence, we made a day trip to Disney World.

National Chocolate Milkshake Day – Judging by the bold words to the left, you know what day it is. Let me take you back seven years to when I revealed my list of Top Five Favorite Corporate Milkshakes. Usually I make you follow the link to see my #1 choice but I am feeling generous tonight and will straight up tell you: Sonic is home to the best milkshakes in the country. However, if you want to find out the other four chains with excellent milkshakes, you need to actually read the post.

Beau and Sloan drinking a milkshake in November 2023.

Back to Homework – Last week, Sloan and Beau returned to St. Mary Catholic School. They spent those first few days getting acclimated to everything. This week? The homework has started! The below photo is from Monday night as my children hammered out their assignments. Sid and I have differing philosophies on homework but I think it is a great way to instill responsibility and time management while keeping the mind sharp.

Sloan and Beau hard at work completing their homework.

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We have a busy weekend ahead of us. The fair, first soccer game, birthday party, fundraising dinner, and more! Whether you have a packed schedule like us or not, I hope your weekend is fulfilling. Don’t Blink.

Continuing His Journey: Fr. Kevin Oiland

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It started with a text. Shortly after moving to Spokane, Sidney and I were looking for a way to find community. We got word that a Spokane Valley Catholic young adult group was starting so I didn’t hesitate to text the phone number listed on the bulletin advertisement. The person who the number belonged to, Fr. Kevin Oiland, responded immediately. That text would dramatically shape the next Reser chapter in our new corner of the country.

This text exchange with Fr. Kevin in September 2020 would lead to so much fruit.

When I think of Fr. Kevin, I immediately feel a debt of gratitude. His work with Fr. Jeff Lewis to create a Catholic young adult group came at the perfect moment for my wife and me. The people we met would become our best friends and companions in Christ. Although simply getting the group off the ground was noteworthy enough for Fr. Kevin to always remain in our prayers, we were spoiled enough to be in his consistent presence for nearly four years after I first exchanged texts with him.

A photo of my family with Fr. Kevin Oiland at a going-away party our young adult group hosted for him.

Fr. Kevin Oiland served as pastor at the Spokane Valley Catholic parishes of St. John Vianney and St. Paschal from July 1, 2018 up through this past Sunday. As is custom in the Roman Catholic Church, priests are given new assignments throughout their ministries. In Fr. Kevin’s case, he recently moved to Walla Walla to become pastor at St. Patrick and St. Francis of Assisi. All I can say is that those parishes landed an incredible priest.

I am sad to see Fr. Kevin go. I truly appreciated his demeanor, kindness, and talents. A soft-spoken priest who was humble to the core, Fr. Kevin made me feel at ease and secure in his presence. In fact, although I wasn’t a parishioner at his parishes, I would occasionally watch the livestreams of his masses just to hear his relatable and conversational homilies. I admired his approach to spiritual warfare in that it is better to make preemptive preparations instead of leaving it all up to the moment of attack. For those more connected to a traditional form of Catholicism, Fr. Kevin shared with the Spokane Valley community his reverent skill of offering the Latin mass at various different times. He also brought an unmatchable passion for/knowledge of G.K. Chesterdon.

Fr. Kevin Oiland speaks to our Catholic young adult group at a special retreat in April 2023.

I have a couple of Fr. Kevin stories that will stay with me. A couple years ago, a group of us from our young adult group played flag football on Saturdays during the fall. My birthday fell on one of those Saturdays and Sidney helped coordinate a surprise party for me at the field. Besides the flag football players I expected to see, there was also a redhead in a cassock who joined the celebration. Yep, Fr. Kevin devoted part of his Saturday morning solely to show up in-person to wish me a happy birthday.

Fr. Kevin Oiland celebrated his 15th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in June (graphic courtesy of the Diocese of Spokane).

Then there was the death of Fr. Kevin’s mom, Laura Oiland. Any words would fail to convey the closeness of that mother-son relationship. I had the opportunity to attend the rosary vigil and I won’t forget walking into Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral and seeing Fr. Kevin up front kneeling in front of his mom’s casket in deep prayer. I was immediately touched by a sense of sadness yet peace. Fr. Kevin would then lead a beautiful and profound rosary service for his mom. I walked out thinking, if only all of us could be commended to God in such a holy way.

Fr. Kevin Oiland (right), baptizes Eden, the daughter of one of the flagship couples of our young adult group. Although most of us weren’t parishioners of Fr. Kevin’s parishes, we still asked him to celebrate one-time sacraments such as baptisms and marriages for us.

Finally, I just want to relate how much Fr. Kevin cared for his flock. He sincerely considers the soul of everyone. Just this year he organized a local pilgrimage for our young adult group to visit St. Francis of Assisi in Spokane so we could obtain a special indulgence for praying at a creche run by Franciscans. Although not the parish priest for most of us in our group, he still presided over some of our marriages and baptisms of our children. He never ceased praying for us and our causes. When my aunt died (just a couple weeks after his mom died), he offered comfort.

Our Catholic young adult group poses inside St. Francis of Assisi in Spokane for a photo after praying at the parish’s creche. Fr. Kevin Oiland is on the left side of the photo in the top row.

Fr. Kevin once addressed our group about life. He likened it to a journey with the final destination hopefully being Heaven. I know his new assignment in Walla Walla is just the latest step on his own journey to eternal joy with God. Please make sure to pray for him. Don’t Blink.

Happy 13th Ordination Anniversary, Dear Friend

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It is a special day for our pastor and friend.

Today, Fr. Jeff Lewis celebrates the 13th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. On May 26, 2011, he answered God’s call and became a living sacrament of Christ when Cardinal Blaise Cupich ordained him a priest for service within the Catholic Diocese of Spokane.

Fr. Jeff celebrates 13 years of priestly ministry today. He was ordained by Cardinal Blaise Cupich on May 26, 2011.

When I wrote about Fr. Jeff’s 12th anniversary of ordination a year ago, little did I know all he would do between that time and today. It certainly has been a banner year for our family priest. Over the past 52 weeks, Fr. Jeff delivered an incredible talk at SEEK, launched a parish-wide evangelization challenge, produced major increases in average weekend mass attendance, made a grand slam principal hire that positively changed the trajectory of our school, and so much more.

Fr. Jeff receives the gifts from Sloan during a St. Mary School mass just a few weeks ago.

However, this year’s ordination blog post isn’t about delving into his many successes as pastor of St. Mary Parish. Nor is it to highlight his numerous priestly merits (I did that last year). Rather, the purpose of this year’s post is to thank him for being such a good friend.

Fr. Jeff has a close relationship with Sloan and Beau. My kids think the world of him.

In the four years that we have known Fr. Jeff, he has always nourished our family with the sacraments and sound spiritual direction. Over the course of this time we have also had the pleasure of getting to know him on a personal level. Thanks be to God, he has always been just a text message away for our family. But this past year we grew even closer and our friendship blossomed.

We are blessed to call Fr. Jeff a dear family friend. (photo courtesy of Carl Lockwood).

When I look back on the past 12 months, it seems like many of our family’s memorable events included Fr. Jeff. From spending Hoopfest weekend together to watching Cougar football in Pullman to “guy’s night” at the rectory to birthday parties to dinners, we have had the blessing of enjoying these good times alongside Fr. Jeff.

We joined Fr. Jeff Lewis and other St. Mary friends on a fun road trip to watch the Washington State University football team defeat the University of Colorado.

There is nothing like hanging out in a seemingly “non-parish” public situation with Fr. Jeff. Although we might be outside the walls of the physical St. Mary church, he is truly always on call as a disciple of Christ. This is evidenced by the many people who approach him for counsel, request a blessing, or call out “FATHER” when walking in a crowd (alright, Fr. Jeff is really tall so he does stand out).

Achieving success during Hoopfest 2023 was great but spending the weekend with Fr. Jeff in-between games was just as awesome.

What I am trying to say is that being a friend of a priest is eye-opening because you are constantly reminded of how much they are needed. Observing this firsthand via our friendship with Fr. Jeff has not only underscored the importance of priestly vocation but has left little doubt about how much our tall friend cherishes his.

Sidney sits next to Fr. Jeff during a break in action during Hoopfest 2023 (and of course Sloan had to be close by as well 😂). It was so cool to see so many approach Fr. Jeff during that weekend.

For all the great times we had with Fr. Jeff over the past year, the undisputed highlight came just last week. Sidney and I had the blessing of presenting with him at the latest Spokane Diocese Engaged Encounter retreat. Over the course of three days, we worked together to deliver five different marriage-based presentations to 14 engaged couples. I would say the chemistry between the three of us was pretty evident 😉. To minister with our friend in such an intimate and important way was pretty special.

The last night of our Engaged Encounter retreat, we had a little celebration for Fr. Jeff after all the programing was done for the day. What a blessed weekend it was!

As Fr. Jeff celebrates his anniversary today, I know there are scores of parishioners—both from St. Mary and his past parishes—who are celebrating his 13 years of priestly service too. Count us in that bunch! For our family, we are celebrating a priest who gladly eats our cooking, humorously inserts Sloan’s name into mass, and gladly accepts Beau’s hugs. We are also thanking God for a priest who genuinely cares for our salvation. Whether Fr. Jeff is saying a mass for our family, hearing our confessions, blessing our house, or doing a multitude of other things, we know his desire is that we make it to Heaven.

Fr. Jeff blessed our house in September. We know our salvation means a lot to him.

Throughout this past year, I have heard Fr. Jeff express how he is filled with joy and peace for the gift of his priesthood. As he embarks on the next 13 years of his priestly ministry (and the next 13 years after that, etc.), I hope the Holy Spirit continues to swell those blessed fruits within him. Please pray for our friend. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2024

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After a fruitful Lent that culminated in full liturgical participation in Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the sacred Easter Vigil, our family was ready for Easter Sunday 2024! What a beautiful day it was…

Sloan holds a candle during the Easter Vigil at St. Mary Catholic Church in the Spokane Valley on March 30, 2024.

The early morning started with Beau and Sloan racing downstairs to find their Easter baskets. I am pretty sure both kids ran as fast as the “other” disciple when he dashed to the tomb. Anyway, the Easter Bunny definitely visited the Reser household.

Sloan and Beau pose with their Easter baskets.

The most important part of our day took place at St. Mary Catholic Church as we attended 9 a.m. Easter Sunday mass. The four of us were joined by my brother and sister-in-law as we worshiped in a full house surrounded by our dearest friends. During a mass with enthusiastic singing and powerful optimism, Fr. Jeff Lewis delivered a homily about the 8 effects of the Resurrection.

Beau and Sloan hang in the vestibule at St. Mary Catholic Church in the Spokane Valley prior to Easter Sunday mass.

We returned home and ate some brunch and relaxed. The kids took the opportunity to take a closer look at their Easter baskets and probably eat a little more candy than they should have. Sidney and I? We continued to watch “Jonathan and Jesus,” a documentary on The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie. It is an incredibly inspirational doc and Roumie, a devout Catholic, proves again and again that there is no Jesus actor better than him. It was the perfect Easter Sunday show to watch.

Taking a moment post-church to take a photo with the kids.

The four of us then piled into the car and headed north to my parents’ house for our Easter celebration. My parents, my siblings, their spouses, and our nieces/nephew were all in a joyous mood. After we all caught up and the kids expelled some energy, we staged the annual “Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt” in the front yard. So much fun!

Glen and the kids after the “Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt.”

After the egg hunt concluded, it was time for the Easter meal. Now don’t be too surprised but we ate something a little exotic…it was called ham 😂. Everything tasted delicious but as always, the conversation around the table was even better than the food.

Easter meal at the Reser household.

Once dinner concluded, the kids went outside to enjoy the gorgeous weather and the adults gathered in the living room to play a rousing game of Chameleon. I honestly don’t know who had more fun—the young people or the old people.

The adults playing “Chameleon.”

We then gathered back around the dinner table for dessert. But before we dug into the pies, puddings, and cookies, we sang “Happy Birthday” to my sister who celebrated her 40th birthday earlier in the week! After we stuffed ourselves even more, we continued to talk with each other and enjoy the day. Eventually, it was time for everyone to head one. When my family returned to the house, we were all ready for the bed. The preceding Holy Week masses/activities and the busy Easter Sunday had us humbly exhausted.

Miranda prepares to blow out the candles while holding her son, John.

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Although Easter Sunday was yesterday, it is important to know that the Easter season extends for the next 50 days. And, although Lent is now over, I must revert back to Fr. Jeff’s homily from Ash Wednesday. Lent should not be viewed as a 40-day sprint to Easter Sunday whereupon we throw out all the holy practices we developed. Rather, we must treat Lent as a boot camp that whips us into shape for the long haul—well past Easter. Rejoice my friends, He is risen! Don’t Blink.

Easter 2023
Easter 2022
Easter 2021
Easter 2020
Easter 2019
Easter 2018