Father’s Column – May 2022

Posted on May 1, 2022 View all news

Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!

It has been a busy past few weeks. I want to thank everyone who helped with preparations for Easter and First Communion. A lot goes into everything, especially the important liturgical days of the year. Just a few things that go into this: there is the cleaning that takes place, arranging of parking, preparation for the socials, the running of fundraisers, the Catechism instruction for the Sacraments, making scapulars, the music practices, the preparation of leaflets and handouts, the server practices, placing the flowers and decorating, the writing of sermons, the studying of the rites. So thank you to everyone who helped in any way, especially by your prayers and friendly words! Without everyone playing a role, these would not be the parishes they are!

I also want to welcome into the Church all those who were baptized or received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. We are grateful that you responded to God’s call to join His Church. Even amid worldly chaos and confusion within the Church, you still chose to make this jump. Trust in God’s providence and always hand everything over to Him. I pray that you have found and will continue to find our parishes to be a place that welcomes and challenges you, so that we can all become the saints God desires in the world today!

Congratulations also to all those who have received their First Communion. I hope that seeing the joy on these young people’s faces reminds us of what we so often take for granted. God has given Himself to us. Not just in His Incarnation, not just on the Cross, but in the Holy Eucharist, as spiritual nourishment for us while we live in this valley of tears. This is truly the real body and blood of the Lord. So may we strive to receive the Holy Eucharist with the same joy as we saw with these children and to receive it more and more worthily!

We are quickly entering the Feast filled time of the Liturgical Year. Please be sure to read the newsletter and watch the bulletins. Coming up first this month will be the Ascension of the Lord, followed by the transferred Feast of St. Philip Neri. June will get us into high gear, and while it can be tiring to have so many Feasts in a row, it is also God’s reprieve to us after the penance of Lent and to give us a reason to celebrate as the weather continues to improve. We hope to see you at all these special Masses and events!

I pray that you have a blessed month ahead and please pray for us!