Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We rejoice this weekend with all of those making their First Holy Communions! We are all proud of each one of you, and pray for this day as you receive Jesus in this Most Special Sacrament. My thanks to all of your teachers, your catechists, your parents, your families, and your friends who have been instrumental in bringing you to this day. Our entire community celebrates with you. You guys will always be the first First Communion class that got to have their celebration in our church. May there be many, many others after you!

In addition to celebrating the Ascension of our Lord today, it is also Mother’s Day. We give thanks to God today for all of our mothers, both those still living and all of those who have already gone home to God. The Vocation of Motherhood is indeed a very special one. Perhaps no one has more of an affect on our lives than our mothers. Motherhood requires that same, selfless attitude of service that is called for by the Gospel. It is easy to see why the Church considers it a vocation. In Motherhood, the woman is called beyond herself, to a love for another. How could this not be connected to the love that the Creator, the Father, has for His creation, us? It can’t. Motherhood bears the imprint of the Divine.

Nowhere and in no situation are we reminded more of this, than when it comes to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This month, we are reminded of this as we celebrate and honor Mary, and as we pray the Rosary. I think that it is time that each one of us re-evaluates our relationship with the Mother of God. At the foot of the Cross, on Good Friday, of course, she became our Mother too. Jesus gave her to us. This month we are reminded that Mary is not some far-off, favor-granter. Nor is she a plaster statue sitting on the shelf. Mary is real. She is OUR Mother. Nobody is better situated to help lead all of us to Jesus than the person who loved Him most of all, His Mother! It’s time that all of us valued her intercession more. When’s the last time that you asked Mary to pray for you? When’s the last time that you prayed a Rosary together as a family? When’s the last time you let Mary be a role model for you in your life with the Christ? As Catholics, we are so blessed that our Church has kept the tradition of venerating Mary. What a shame it would be, if we failed to take advantage of it.

Mary is also the role model for us on how to be Church. What God has done for Mary, and what He accomplished through her, is exactly what God wants to accomplish in the whole Church. If Mary is free from all sin, holy, faithful virgin, and the living tabernacle of the God, it is because God in His great goodness puts Mary forth as an example of what He intends to do for the whole Church. Mary is the leader of the new Israel, the Church. When Mary said ‘yes’ at the Annunciation, she was answering for all of the members of the Church. And when Mary willingly accepted the Father’s plan of salvation for the redemption of all of mankind, at the foot of the Cross, she did so as a representative of the Church. Mary is so important for the Church because she reminds us of what we are supposed to be as God’s people, and where it is that we are going in the future.

Let us keep this month devoted to Mary. What a wonderful tradition to keep in our families. May really is a special opportunity for all of us when it comes to Mary. This year, let’s take advantage of it.

Next weekend, is the Feast of Pentecost. As we have done now for a couple of years, the St. Maria Goretti Parish Council will sponsor our annual Ministry Fair. Next weekend, after ALL Masses, everyone will be asked to move over to the Parish Hall, to consider how you can get involved in helping out here at our Parish family. In addition, at the Ministry Fair, is the first opportunity to sign up to help out at our annual Italian Festival on July 9 th. An army of volunteers is needed, and I can assure you, that it will be one of the most fun things that you will ever volunteer for. Please plan now to come over after Masses next weekend. To encourage this, both Fr. Dale and I will be extra short in our homilies. That will be our deal. Now if you break our deal, and can’t seem to find the time to stop over at the Ministry Fair, well, let’s just say I can even the next week. See you there!

Have a great week! Enjoy this beautiful weather!

In Christ
Fr. Kevin

Try our Sundays. They’re better than Dairy Queen’s.