Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the last of the Solemnities of this season, namely, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, also known as Corpus Christi.
June 11, 2023, is also the date on which we enter into the most critical phase of the Eucharistic Revival: the Year of Parish Revival. This is the hinge point, the make-or-break moment. This is the date when our parishes in the United States approach our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and kneel before Him with joy and humility. Let us as a parish community thank the Lord most fervently for giving Himself to us in the Blessed Sacrament. During this year of the revival and ever after, let us strive to make the Eucharist the center of our community and to unite within the Eucharist.
The Holy Mass brings us out of the fallen world and introduces to us a slice of the heavenly realm. The Eucharist is the most privileged and intimate encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us resolve this year to journey into the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. Let us spend time in Adoration, pondering this most amazing gift of Jesus’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. . Let us make every effort to join intimately with the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus and allow him to transform our lives so that we may become a truly Eucharistic Community.
On Friday, June 16th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This being the patronal feast of the Priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross, we will have a Mass at 8 a.m., the Holy Hour at 3 p.m., and a special Mass at 6 p.m. to help us spend time before of Jesus, whose Sacred Heart beats so vigorously for us. It is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. Please pray for Fr. Vincent, me, and all priests, that we may be good shepherds in the manner of Heart of Jesus.
This past week, from June 5 thru 9, we hosted a fun-filled and fantastic Vacation Bible School (VBS). The VBSwas a huge success. Our children journeyed to ancient Babylon and learned about Daniel and his friends. The children experienced stories of courage and faithfulness. Each day, they heard that, no matter what, God loves them and will continue to be with them. I take this opportunity to thank Schonda, Kelli, the entire core team, and the other volunteers who helped make this year’s VBS a memorable experience for our children. Thank you, dear parents, for making use of this opportunity to feed your children spiritually. Congratulations to the children who participated in our VBS this year.
Please mark your calendar for February 4, 2023 for the much-awaited International Festival. This will begin with a Mass at 11 a.m., following which we will get to experience delicious food from all over the world and have some entertainment. More information will be coming out soon. I thank Janet Owen for leading this year’s International Festival as the chair person. I thank the many leaders of the subcommittees who have already begun their work. So, let’s prepare!
I also take this opportunity to thank Dick and Diane Baumbach for their ministry as Wedding Coordinators. They became involved in this ministry right after they joined our parish, and they served in this role with passion. They deserve the much-needed break now, and we are deeply grateful to them for what they have accomplished. I take this opportunity to heartily welcome Roma Zimmerman and Sonia Santiago, who will now lead this lovely ministry of accompanying those that who are preparing for their wedding/marriage convalidation. They are a great gift to us. Thank you, Roma and Sonia, for all you do.
A hearty welcome to Fr. Lawrence, OMI, one of my cousins, who will share with us about the gift of the Eucharist. As he celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his ordination, we congratulate him and pray that he might continue to shine the light of Christ where ever he serves.
Have a Blessed Week!
Fr. John