Notes from Our Pastor

June 23, 2019

Dear parishioners:

As we gather on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus, we celebrate Eucharist. We fulfill the
wish of Jesus at the Last Supper. We “do this in memory of me” as Jesus instructed us! I share this
reflection that Rev. Peter Vaghi did in his book, The Sacraments We Celebrate. He says that this
sacrament is “so rich and inexhaustible” that we use many names to describe it.

Eucharist: Because it is an action of thanksgiving to God.
The Lord’s Supper: Because of its connection with the supper that the Lord took with his disciples on the
eve of his Passion, when he instituted this sacrament.
The Breaking of Bread: because by this action the disciples first recognized Jesus after the Resurrection
(Luke 24:13-35)
Eucharistic Assembly: Because the Eucharist is celebrated amidst the faithful, the visible expression of
the church.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: Because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ.
Divine Liturgy: Because the Church finds its center in the celebration of this sacrament.
Holy Communion: Because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his
Body and Blood and forms one single body.
Holy Mass: The liturgy concludes with the sending forth of the faithful to fulfill their mission to the
world. The word Mass comes from the Latin word for sent, missio.
He goes on to say that this sacrament, “at its heart, however, is the sacrificial love of Jesus, his dying and
rising that we celebrate in each and every Mass. Every Eucharist is this commemoration, this memorial
(this making present of a past event), this reenactment of his death on Calvary and his glorious
Resurrection, and this memorial of his wonderful love for us. It is love in its most radical form!”

Fr. Vaghi offers these questions for reflection on the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist in your and my life.
What memories do you have of your First Communion? What did Communion mean to you when you
first received it?
Which of the names for this sacrament represents a new or unaccustomed way of thinking about it?
What can you learn from thinking about the sacrament in this way?
What does the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist mean to you?

Soul of Christ sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me!
In Christ, present in the Eucharist!
Fr. John

June 16, 2019

Happy Father’s Day!
Dear Parishioners:
We will have the joy of blessing all the fathers who gather with us at Eucharist this
weekend. I also want to offer you blessing prayers you may use if you are fortunate
enough to gather with family this weekend.

These prayers are from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, published by our
National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Father’s Day Blessing
May God, who gives life on earth and in heaven,
lead you to walk by the light of faith and so help your children attain the good things
Christ has promised us. Amen.
Or,
God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless our fathers.
Let the example of his faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, his family, may honor him always, with a spirit of profound respect. Grant
this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
And for our deceased fathers.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
In Christ, Fr. John

P.S. If you know of any parishioners who are in nursing homes or assisted living facilities
and would like a visit from me or Sr. Pat, just let me know.

June 9, 2019

Come Holy Spirit, Come!
Dear parishioners:

I am grateful to the liturgy committee who suggested that we provide the insert on Pentecost that is
included in this week’s bulletin. I hope you have the time to read and reflect upon the great gift of the
Holy Spirit!
The insert contains a list of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit! It was surely one of those lists we were
asked to learn by heart and take to heart when we were preparing for Confirmation. Quick, before you
look at the insert, do you remember the Seven Gifts? I’ll admit to having a struggle at times to recall
them all.

Perhaps more a important question is, once we recall the gifts of the Spirit is, do you use them? To
believe that God loves us enough to give us gifts of wisdom, understanding, courage . . . ! Gifts to guide
us, bring us peace and to live in right relationship with God, His people and ourselves! Amazing!
Speaking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit the insert says, “The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the
Church on the first Pentecost just as it was for each of us in baptism. The Spirit continues to empower us
not only to believe, but to act as disciples!”
Come Holy Spirit, come! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the Spirit of your love! I also
share these thoughts from Our Archbishop, Robert Carlson, who, issued the following statement
following the passage of the “Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act.”

“During the Annual March for Life in January, I walked with those proclaiming a culture of life. We all
have a responsibility to do what we can so that in this nation, in our families, in our archdiocese, we
choose life unconditionally.
What we are now witnessing here in Missouri are lawmakers exercising that responsibility, and we
commend them for working to protect the innocent and vulnerable. We hope the love of Jesus Christ
touches our hearts, so that we all become witnesses to the protection and nurturing of all life.”

The Archdiocese of St. Louis offers support for all those looking for hope and healing at archstl.org/hopehealing or by calling the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
at (314) 792-7555.

I thank you for all the prayerful and financial support that you give to the Pro-Life effort that helps
women choose life and supports them through their pregnancy and after the birth of their child.

Fr. John

For more parish news and information, please check our weekly bulletin.