The Rev. John Ubel of the Cathedral of Saint Paul reflected upon a recent cross-country road trip in the church's July 5 weekly bulletin.

Ubel wrote that a retreat he's planned on attending was cancelled due to COVID-19, giving him the opportunity to rediscover Middle America by car. He visited Niagara Falls and the St. Mary of the Cataract Church there, which was founded by St. John Neumann. While in the area, he visited American Falls and also had the opportunity to drive by Lake Erie on his way to Cleveland. 

He passed through Ohio and Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo before coming to Lake Michigan, where he boarded a ferry with only a handful of other guests. 

The Rev. John Ubel | http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/

“My car was one of just a half dozen aboard and I wrote this column while gazing out across the world’s fifth largest lake,” Ubel wrote. “The journey of 87 nautical miles was worth the price of admission, just to avoid Chicago traffic.”

As they came near the pier, Ubel said that he was able to see the Basilica of St. Josaphat. 

“The solitude of the 1,400-mile journey across half our nation was as refreshing as it was necessary,” Ubel wrote. “May God shower His abundant blessings upon our nation. We need them now more than ever.”

Ubel ended with some reflections, which included words from Andrew Reed and James Matheson.

“America will be great if America is good,” he quoted. “If not, her greatness will vanish like a morning cloud.”

Additionally, Ubel wrote that on July 4, 1960, the U.S. flag showed off its 50 stars, after Hawaii and Alaska gained statehood. 

“As we commemorate our nation’s 244th birthday, despite her flaws, may we strive to remain ‘one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all,’” Ubel wrote.