April 27, 2008
Dear Parishioners,
Last Sunday the world saw Pope Benedict XVI address the Catholics of the United States from Yankee Stadium and then at the Airport as he was returning to Rome. We have been greatly blessed. I pray that you will read each one of the texts of his homilies and addresses while he was here; you can access them from our Parish Web Site. They give direction for our lives. The Universal Shepherd of the Church founded by our Lord came to visit us. The Lord founded the Church so that He could fulfill His promise we hear in the Gospel today: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” He continues His redeeming work through the Church and the Sacraments so that we will be prepared for the day of His coming at the end of the world. The Holy Father came lead us into deeper communion with the whole Church throughout the world.
Because our Lord continues His redeeming work for and in us, we are a people of joy as we sing in the Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass. We want to make sure that our joy is heard to the ends of the earth. Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the fact of the spread of the Catholic faith through the conferral of Holy Baptism and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Christ promises to send the Holy Spirit (Advocate) to us to confirm us in the faith. We are filled with joy as our Most Reverend Bishop, His Excellency, Bishop Jugis visits us at the Saturday Vigil Mass on May 24 to bring the Holy Spirit to our young ones through the Sacrament of
Confirmation. These newly confirmed Catholics will then be charged with a more fervent observance of keeping the Commandments as Christ teaches us in the Gospel and also of sharing this Good News in their lives at school, home, neighborhoods, sports, everywhere as they listen to the Lord in His call to their future state in life, their vocation.
Next Sunday at the 10:00 Sunday Solemn Mass our young ones in the second grade will receive Holy Communion for the first time as they begin their lifelong journey to be in communion with Christ’s Church so that they may receive Holy Communion all their lives in the journey to the Second Coming of Jesus. Our joy at seeing them receive the “Bread of Life”, the food which will enable them to live the joy of the commandments, is increased by our appreciation of this great gift of the Most Holy Eucharist.
One of those memory verses each Catholic should memorize is in our second reading today which is taken from the first encyclical letter of Pope Peter: 1 Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…” In some translations it reads: “Be ready to give a reasoned explanation for the cause of your joy…” So, we are called to be ready to explain our Faith with reason. Let us share this knowledge by knowing the faith and how to live it out in a practical way as St. Peter says: “…with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear…” Study of the Catechism is essential to Christian living.
Another memory verse is what our Lord says in the Gospel: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Our Holy Father spoke to us of “authority” and obedience”. It is by our obedience of faith that we are obedient to the authority of our pastors. To lovingly obey them in the matters of the Faith is the practical way we love Christ Who has placed them in authority over us. He did so that we might grow in holiness and achieve our salvation.
Remember that next Sunday we begin our month dedicated to the Blessed Mother. I pray you all have your “May Altars” ready for the 1st of May. Set an image of the Blessed Mother in a special place; keep fresh flowers there during the month; pray the Rosary everyday as a family and as individuals. Pray the Litany of the Blessed Mother together. Be sure your children know the “Memorare” and the “Hail, Holy Queen” prayers.
On Sunday, May 11 we will have the May procession and Crowning of the Blessed Mother statue at the 10:00 AM Mass. All First Communicants in their First Communion clothing should be in the Vestibule of the Church at 9:45 to prepare for the Solemn Mass and Crowing ceremony. They will process in to the Church and then sit with their families. All children are invited to bring fresh flowers for the procession as a gift to our Lady.
Last Saturday, four of us had a very good experience at the Provincial Stewardship Convention. I am looking forward to us building our Parish as a Stewardship Parish. You will be hearing more of this as we look to the future. Thanks for all you do for our Parish.
Just a few of gentle reminders:
Parents, please be careful with our children; no one under 18
should leave Mass except for an emergency and never by them- selves if they are under 18. If they are sick they need assistance; and if there is an emergency they need someone with them to supervise them safely.
With spring and summer upon us, be careful to dress in “Sunday best” for Mass. The Church is air conditioned. Please do not wear shorts to Mass.
No one should be eating or drinking anything in the Church; this is a sacred place. This would include mints, chewing gum, even cheerios or foods for children, etc. Eating or drinking within one hour of Holy Communion breaks the fast and inhibits one from receiving Holy Communion at that Mass.
Please visit and socialize in the vestibule and outside of the Church before, during and after Mass rather than in the Church. The Church should be quiet as the Holy Place of the Lord; this also allows others to pray individually before, during and after Mass. Please respect others desire to have this quiet place and quiet time. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states:“Silence
45. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.[54] Its purpose, however, depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus within the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; but at the conclusion of a reading or the homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard; then after Communion, they praise and pray to God in their hearts.
Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.”May our Lord bless you and our Lady keep you in her care.
With my prayers,
Father Arnsparger