Dear Parishioners,

We celebrated the funeral Mass for Matthew Stack last Friday, May 5th. We extend our sympathy to his family, especially to his sister, our parishioner, Michelle Garrity. Matthew was a prayerful man who attended Mass for as long as he was able and was described as being devoted to Jesus especially through meditation. He served as an usher at the parish to which he belonged. In his suffering, he looked to his faith for strength & courage. I ask you, as always, to keep Matthew and his grieving loved ones, in your prayers.

Every year we have published a directory or Guidebook which lists the names and optionally the address & phone numbers of parishioners (we always ask if you wish for these to be published). We have this booklet included free in our contract with the bulletin company. We do not pay for the weekly bulletin or for the other associated services provided by that company (such as our quarterly newsletter) as they use advertising to provide these to us. I would like to ask if you find this Guidebook of parishioners' names and other information useful. If most do not, there is no need to continue to provide it but I am happy to do so if many do find it helpful. So please let me or the Deacon or his wife or our Office Manager or our receptionist or anyone else you think would care to know if you want us to continue with this free booklet. Another option would be to have one updated once every so many years. So again, let someone on the staff know how you feel about it.

Last week as we celebrated the First Communion of 4 of our parish children, I thanked the parents for all they did this year to place their trust in us and cooperate with the changes we made in preparing their children for this important and life-long Sacrament. But I also want to thank the people of our parish who serve as leaders and catechists (teachers) in our Faith Formation Program. I am grateful to Joanne Deranek for her leadership as Director of Faith Formation and to Macrina Dodson who works in our parish school and on Sunday mornings in these catechetical sessions. I am also grateful to the teachers & other staff who work along with them in passing the faith on to these young people. I know the Lord will reward them for living out in word and example his call to proclaim the Good News to others.

On this Mother’s Day, I think of how important my 6 mother’s have been in my life. I know that may sound a bit strange, but here’s whom I include in that list: my mother Sara who gave me birth, my step-mother Mildred who gave my dad many happy years of marriage and who “adopted” us as her stepchildren with love and grace, my 2 grandmothers whom I continue to remember fondly and prayerfully as they prayed for my vocation to the priesthood, my godmother Aunt Lucy who was my maternal grandmother’s sister, and our common Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary whom we and all the Church honor in a special way on this day and during this whole month of May. I offer this prayer that you may read thoughtfully now as you give memory to your own mothers and pray for them through these words:

Mary, on this day when we honor all mothers, we turn to you. Never has it been known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided by grace. Dear Mother, thank you for your “Yes” to the invitation of the angel which brought heaven to earth and changed human history. You opened yourself to God’s word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. On this Mothers day, Mother of the Word Incarnate, pray for us who have recourse to you.

Fr. James P. Schmitz