Congratulations to our First Holy Communion Class, and welcome to the Table of Plenty as you receive the Bread of Life. These young parishioners have been diligently preparing for their first reception of the Most Blessed Sacrament and their reverent approach to the altar showcases their love and respect for Jesus, the Church, and the Most Holy Eucharist. Thank you to our teachers, catechists, and all who have prepared our First Communion Class for this special day.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The year is indeed flying by extremely fast. Thursday, 9 May is the Solemnity of the Ascension of The Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation. All are invited to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with our school students at Notre Dame de Lourdes 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, 9 May. Mass will also be celebrated for the Ascension at Our Lady of Peace at 6:30 P.M. on Thursday, 9 May. The Solemnity of the Ascension celebrates Our Lord’s triumphant return to the Father. Jesus left heaven with his divine nature, at the Ascension Jesus returns to heaven with a divine and human nature. Thus, the Ascension celebrates human nature’s entrance into heaven making everlasting life possible for all of God’s children. The Solemnity of the Ascension completes the Paschal Mystery (Passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension) of Jesus.
Pentecost follows ten days after the Ascension. After the Ascension the followers of Jesus were encouraged to wait together in Jerusalem until the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is interesting to speculate about the prayers that they offered and the conversations that they shared with each other as they reflected on the life, teaching, and ministry of Jesus and as they awaited the promised Advocate. Pope Leo XIII (13th) in 1897 stressed the importance for the faithful to pray a Pentecost Novena. The following prayer, offered between 9 May and 18 May would be an appropriate means of preparing for the reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray, O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Loving God renew in our hearts the seven-fold gifts of your Spirit that our lives might bear an abundant harvest of the fruits of your Spirit. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We are blessed to have a parish, worship site, and a school dedicated to Our Lady. In this month of May entrust your needs to Mary and may she lead you to the Divine Grace of her Son. Prayer intention forms are located near the statue of Our Lady of Peace and the statue of Notre Dame de Lourdes. Please feel free to place your prayer intentions there. These intentions will be remembered by our clergy throughout the month of May. You are also most welcome to include notes of thanksgiving to Our Lady for her loving patroness to our parish and for her maternal care and protection for the Church.
Information and Pledge Forms for the Catholic Charities Appeal can be found near the entrances of Church. The goal of this year’s Appeal is $10 million. These funds are used for Social Service Ministries (54%), Evangelization (13%), Special Education (12%), Support of Missionary Parishes in the Archdiocese (11%), and for the Care of Elderly Clergy (10%). As our Archbishop states: “Your gift to the Catholic Charities Appeal ensures that critical and life-sustaining works of charity in our local Church can serve the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on us for help and hope each year.” Thank you for your generosity and prayerful support. Blessings in abundance!