Dear Friends,
Over the last few weekends, we have celebrated a number of Solemnities that honor our deeply-held beliefs, the fundamental and foundational tenets and teachings of the
Catholic Church. This weekend, we will celebrate yet another great truth about Catholicism, namely the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Feast of Corpus Christi. For Catholics, the Holy Eucharist is everything, the “source and summit” of our Christian life. Without exception, all of the saints canonized by the Catholic Church have been declared so because of their devotion to the Eucharist and acknowledgement of it as the irrefutable “source and summit” of their lives. CCC 1324 says: “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of parish priests, shares with us his convictions and faith in the Eucharist: “All good works together are not of equal value with the Sacrifice of the Mass, because they are the works of men, and the holy Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison; it is the sacrifice that man makes of his life to God; the Mass is the sacrifice that God makes to man of His Body and of His Blood.” Such is the greatness of the Mass and the Eucharist!
Meditating on the “Stations of the Eucharist” reveals to us the greatness of God in design of His plan for salvation before time began. Through the whole of salvation history, God Our Father has prepared His people for the Gift of His Beloved Son, for the Gift of His Real Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. Throughout the Old Testament, the Eucharist was prefigured; in the New Testament, these shadows give way to Reality. Let us open our hearts and minds to the treasure of the Eucharist and to the Doctrine of the Real Presence. Let us entreat the Lord to increase our faith, enkindle our hope, and deepen our love for Him, our Eucharistic King.
On Saturday, June 6th, we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation for 55 confirmandis during two Masses, 9 a.m. and 12 noon. Warmest congratulations to our recently confirmed young men and women! I take this opportunity to thank parents and sponsors alike for your commitment to the faith formation of your children. Confirmation is not a “graduation” from the study and practice of our faith, rather an affirmation of the gift of the Holy Spirit that roots one more firmly to Jesus Christ. This is the crucial time for them to be guided in faith Your commitment will serve to strengthen their ties to the Church and help them stand firm in their faith when facing life’s challenges and while serving others, our missionary call.
Last week, we honored the Cominsky family as our “Family of the Month.” Both Mike and Cheryl have been a tremendous source of love and commitment to our parish, on fire with the love of God and our parish community. In addition to helping with a variety of events throughout the year, Mike is involved with the Knights of Columbus, and Cheryl is now the Executive Director of our favorite outreach ministry, The Children’s Hunger Project. We thank them for their service and their love and dedication to our parish.
Preparations for the celebration of First Holy Communion are underway. SJE Kids will make their First Reconciliation during one of two services this month, one on Saturday, June 13th and another on Saturday, June 20th, both at 10 a.m. On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, I thank all the parents and guardians for their patient, loving guidance as we continue to prepare their children for the day when they will join us at the Lord’s table for the gift of the Eucharist, the central focus of the sacramental life of the Church.
Let us continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the health and safety of all.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Be Blessed!
With Love,
Fr. John Britto Antony C.S.C.