Dear friends,
Thank you for your continued prayers for Fr. John Patrick’s healing and recovery, both of which are coming along much better than expected. Thanks be to God for his patient endurance, kindness in returning to us to celebrate daily Mass, and for your prayers.
I want to thank Fr. Mark Thesing, C.S.C., Assistant Provincial of the USA Province of Brothers and Priests, for his recent visit. Needless to say, he was delighted by the liveliness of our parish. Thank you for always being so wonderful and welcoming to our guests.
I would also like to thank Richard Bossler, Johnnie Rivera, and the slew of kitchen soldiers, Judy Palinkas and the Parish Life ministry, and Ron and Barbara Yanko and the Coffee and Donut ministry for their efforts in coordinating our parish social weekend, a sign of things to come as we gradually embrace a return to “normalcy.” Kudos to all those who worked so hard to make last weekend a memorable one.
In addition, I extend a huge thank you to Dawn Hurley, our DRE, and catechists Kathy Drake, Andrea Walker, Monique Vargas, Ariana Alves, and Elizabeth Paffenroth for their dedicated efforts in preparing our children for their First Holy Communion on 1 May 2021. Thanks are also due to Nick and Terri Gallagher for their availability and support of gift shop offerings for this special occasion.
Congratulations to the 62 children who received Our Lord in Communion for the very first time! What a gift we have in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God, who makes himself available to us in the Eucharist. As St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” Wow, how precious a gift! Thank you, parents and guardians, for your commitment to continued faith formation and dedication to ensuring your children receive the Lord in the Eucharist.
Along with Baptism, this gift of bringing your children to the table of the Lord is of inestimable value. Just as Peter proclaims in witnessing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his listeners – “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” (Acts:10: 47) – we must apply this same sentiment to our children who are ready to receive the Lord in the Eucharist again and again: “Can anyone withhold the Lord in the Eucharist for our children?”
After receiving their First Communion on Saturday, the same group of children returned on Sunday for May Crowning and Mass to honor our Mother Mary during this month dedicated to her. As the CCW ladies accompanied the First Communicants in procession with flowers to our Blessed Mother, all were moved by the symbolism of the older generation passing on their faith … absolutely breathtaking!
This week, as we enter into the 6th Sunday of Easter, the Scriptures invite us to remain in his love. He loves us so much that he calls us his friends. The absolute key to remaining in his love is, in his words, to “love one another as I have loved you.”
On this Mother’s Day weekend, we wish to remember our mothers in prayer, both living and deceased, as we thank the Lord for the gift of their lives. THANK YOU, MOMS, we love you!
Have a fabulous week ahead.
Be Blessed!
With love, Fr. John