Dear Family,
How many wonderful events can you cram into one Sunday? Well, we’re trying our best. And mine actually begins with the memory of two weeks ago when we blessed our new shrine in honor of Our Lady, Star of the Sea. This is the first Twitch since Archbishop Keleher blessed the new space. I’ve heard nothing but great feed-back since. Once again, thanks to Chris O’Connor for providing the garden in honor of his parents. (I’ve been searching the archives of Holy Mother Church to see if anyone ever wrote an anti-iguana prayer. So far, all I get are vague references to St. Francis of Assisi...)
Today we celebrate the First Communions of four really nice kids, Camila Padro, Juan-Martin Romero, Amelie De Kegel, and Luciano Pico. I am grateful for the parents who bring them and the teachers — Susan Mansolillo, Charlotte Newbury, Noelle Cox — who guided them through the year. The greatest gift all of us could receive would be to know that these children will always be at the table of the Lord, and will play a special role in the world as they live out being the Christ they receive at His table.
Yesterday, (May 12th,) Archbishop Wenski ordained four new priests for the Church of Miami, Fathers Omar E. Ayubi, Gustavo M. Barros, Juan A. Gomez and Matthew Gomez. The first three are late vocations, coming from various walks of life as well as Colombia and Mexico. I hope you read their biographies in the Florida Catholic. Father Matthew Gomez is actually a native of Hialeah. We will place their group portrait up on our front entrance wall as soon as we get it. That’s to remind us to pray for them. We are very blessed to have them.
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus. I still have a hard time saying, ‘Ascension’ without following the word with “Thursday.” Actually, we have had it transferred to Sunday for nearly 20 years. Even though it was a Holy Day of Obligation, in fact, people didn’t go to Mass. The Ascension is a major feast for the Church. Easter is at the top of the list and then comes Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension and Pentecost. So...
The bishops in a province (our province is Miami including the whole state) can move the feast to stress its importance. Some provinces in the northeast still observe Thursday, which is why if you’re from Boston, New York, Philly, Hartford, Newark, etc. it may seem confusing. To me using Sunday is a wonderful way to emphasize that the work of our salvation is finally completed when Jesus ascends to his Father. He left his disciples with the command to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Spirit. He had work for them to do. They did. Next week we hear of the Spirit’s coming, and you know the rest of the story: He we are!
And last but by no means least is the final item on my list for today: Mother’s Day.
At today’s Masses we used a special blessing which comes from the Book of Blessings.
Loving God,
as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
so you watch over your Church.
Bless these women,
that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen
THANKS, MOM! With happy memories,
