by Katie Patrick
In June, my family traveled to Stromsburg to attend the Swedish Midsommer Festival, a tradition that started the first summer Ryan and I met. While Ryan and I both have Swedish roots, Stromsburg is where my husband grew up and spent his middle school and high school years so it’s a particularly meaningful trip back home for him. We look forward to this festival each summer: a celebration of heritage, yes, but it’s also Ryan’s chance to share his past with our daughters.
The festival was a blend of old-world charm and good ol’ Midwestern warmth. The weather played its part, as we bore the humidity and the threat of storms that thankfully veered away. As the evening parade with its unexpected Christmas theme began, we prepped our daughters for the loud motorcycles and candy that would be thrown their way. It was in these moments, surrounded by family, friends, and the local community, that the essence of small-town America revealed itself—a mixture of shared memories and simple pleasures. 
As our daughters experienced the excitement of running after candy and scurrying back when motorcycles revved their engines, the upcoming Fourth of July came to mind. It’s a time when we celebrate the freedom of our nation. The upcoming holiday also came to mind because we had just thrown a rather garish “‘Merica” party the previous weekend, which was such a fun time with family and friends coming together to support our veterans.
Yet, as I am writing this article, I think about those thoughts I had that evening and a deeper journey now comes to mind. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. It was a brief hour, squeezed between the demands of motherhood and daily life, at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ on Thursday, June 20. Despite the whirlwind of thoughts about family, my roles as a wife and mother, and the tasks awaiting me at home, there was a beautiful calmness being in front of the Blessed Sacrament that night, as I was reminded that true freedom is found in our Catholic faith.
In quiet adoration among dozens of others, I reflected on the words from my Magnificat prayer book: “Que la paix de Dieu garde notre coeur et nos pensées dans le Christ Jésus, notre Seigneur, Amen.” (May the peace of God guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord, Amen.) These words resonated deeply, reminding me that amidst the busyness of life, true peace is found in surrendering ourselves to Christ.
This experience bridged the festivities of the Midsommer Festival and the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations. It reminded me that while our nation affords us many freedoms, the ultimate freedom lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a freedom that transcends borders and cultures, offering solace and hope to all who seek it.
As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and barbecues, I find myself thinking about the freedom we have in Christ—a freedom that asks us to give of ourselves completely. Just as the Swedish Midsommer Festival connects us to our heritage and community, and the Fourth of July celebrates our national identity, the Eucharistic Pilgrimage reminds us of a deeper, spiritual freedom that unites the faithful across the world.
