Weekend Wisdom - August 10th, 2025

Casting with Patience and Purpose

This summer, the Mares family had more opportunities than usual to go fishing, especially after one of our boys requested a new fishing rod for his birthday in the spring.  Whether you’re sitting at the edge of a dock with a simple bobber or chatting up the local fishing expert on the Whopper Plopper 5000 lure, fishing lends itself well to easy conversation and time for reflection.  At its heart, fishing is a practice of trust and patience. Some days, the little fish bite easily, one after another. Other times, you cast for hours with nothing but quiet water and the silent hope that the big one is still out there.

Jesus chose fishermen to be His first disciples for a reason. They knew what it meant to work hard, wait patiently, and keep casting even when the nets came up empty. When He told them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), He was inviting them, and us, into a life of spiritual persistence.

As we enter a new school year, this metaphor hits close to home. Some of us will experience immediate joy in the classroom, at home, or in ministry, much like reeling in many small fish with a simple hook and bait. These are the everyday wins: a smile, a breakthrough in learning, a prayer said with sincerity. Small catches, but meaningful.

Other moments will feel like deeper fishing—strategic, slow, and sometimes discouraging. You try everything: new methods, thoughtful approaches, patient conversations—and still, nothing. But just like the seasoned angler doesn’t quit when the fish aren’t biting, we are called to keep showing up. Because faith, like fishing, isn’t about control. It’s about consistency, hope, and the belief that God is always at work, even beneath the surface.

Our students, our families, and our faith communities are the waters we cast into daily. Some will be ready to respond; others will take time. Our role is not always to haul in the net full, but to cast it faithfully, trusting God with the outcome.

This year, may we fish with joy, lead with patience, and teach with hope. And when it seems like nothing’s biting, may we trust that the biggest blessings are often the ones just out of sight, waiting for us to keep the faith and cast again.

With heart and soul,

Molly Mares

Principal, Notre Dame of De Pere