June 01, 2008
Dear Parishioners,
We have had so many celebrations in these last weeks; thanks to all who helped with them:
First Holy Communion for our young ones. How beautiful to see all of our children so innocent and reverent and so eager to begin their continuing procession of the Holy Eucharist. Congratulations to their parents who prepared them their catechists, and to all those who helped with the Holy Mass and the reception to celebrate this great event.
May gave us the month to honor our Lady. Thanks to all who helped with the May Procession and Crowning. Our First Communion children leading the procession with flowers for our Lady was a beautiful testimony to our understanding of our Lady's role in our redemption. Thanks to De Watson and her crew for the decorations at the statue of our Lady.
We celebrated the Solemnities of Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, and Corpus Christi.
Thanks to all who helped with the 40 Hours Devotions and to all who set up and participated in the Closing Ceremonies and Benediction. The Altars prepared by the Hispanic Parishioners, the Faith Formation and the School were beautiful. Thanks to the Altar Guild and Sacristans for their planning.
We were blessed to welcome Bishop Jugis for the conferring of the Holy Sacraments of Confirmation. Congratulations to their parents who prepared them, to their catechists and all who helped with the Holy Mass and reception. How good to see our young ones receive the Sacramental graces increasing in them the 7 fold gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for their response to be true soldiers of Christ to help build the Kingdom. Let us continue to help them develop their Faith lives with true understanding and Catholic Action.
We all want to thank Jackie Gallagher, the Youth and the Adult choir for all their labors of love during these great celebrations. They have led us in a great honoring of our Lord. Our developing choir and music program is a gift to us.
We also want to thank Melissa Deaton and the Kingsleys for all their planning and work on the beautiful floral arrangements for the month of May. The Altar flowers and the flowers for our Lady were beautiful.
And we want to thank the Altar Boys who take such mature leadership on the Sacred Liturgy. Some of them will be called to the vocation of Marriage and they will lead their families in Liturgical prayer and development. Some will be called to the religious life as Brothers or Monks. And some are being called to the Holy Priesthood. Pray for them as they do for you.
June is the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will be receiving a mailing with information about Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I hope each of you will sign up with the Apostleship of Prayer to commit yourselves to the praying of the Morning Prayer every day. It would be a particular blessing for you to assist at Holy Mass each First Friday of the Month and receive Holy Communion.
Here are the promises our Lord made to us through St. Margaret Mary at the Convent in Paray Le Monial:
1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life>"
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; the shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."
God bless you and may our Lady keep you in her care.
With my prayers,
Fr. Arnsparger