My Dear Parishioners,

Please keep our young 3rd graders in your prayers. This Saturday, May 21st, 8 of them made their First Holy Communion. This is a special time in the spiritual life of a Catholic. We ask that Jesus will stay close to these young people as they take Him into their hearts and souls. Please pray for their families too, that they will facilitate these relationships by bringing them to Mass regularly. We have invited them to attend Mass this week in their First Communion dresses and suits. If you see one of our young people, please help us congratulate them on this milestone in their lives and encourage them to stay close to Jesus.

May is also the month of Mary and a time when we reflect on Our Blessed Mother’s willingness to make a home for Jesus within her. We too are called to make a home for Jesus in our hearts and Mary will help us do that. We honor Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth in a special way with our May Procession on Monday, May 23rd. The procession begins at 7:20 pm in the grassy area between the two back parking lots (weather permitting). We invite all members of the 2022 First Communion class to take a place of honor in the procession. Please wear your First Communion attire. We also ask parishioners to bring flowers from your gardens. The flowers are carried in procession along with a statue of Mary and then placed in front of the statue as a tribute to the Blessed Virgin. After the procession we will pray the Rosary. The night closes with Benediction. It is a beautiful devotion and I hope to see you there. If anyone is willing to assist in carrying the statue of the Blessed Virgin, please see me.

This Thursday, May 26, 2022 is our celebration of the Ascension of Our Lord and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. We celebrate that Jesus returns to His rightful place next to the Father. We take the opportunity to remember that we are all called to be in heaven with God the Father, Son, and Spirit, all the angels and saints, and our brothers and sisters. I think that one of the important aspects of the Ascension of Our Lord is that it also calls us to look forward to life in heaven. The Apostles also were called to wait and watch for the Holy Spirit. The schedule will be as follows: Wednesday evening the Vigil Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. Masses on The Holy Day will be at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and also 7:00 p.m.

This Saturday, May 21st, Archbishop Perez ordained 6 men to the priesthood, Reverend Andrew J. Auletta, Reverend Sang Woo Chi, Reverend Henry F. Graebe, Reverend Andrew Lane, Reverend Ryan Nguyen, and Reverend Roneld Saint Louis. Please pray for them as they assume their first assignments. It is also a good idea to pray for all priests at this time, as this is the time when many of the priest changes are announced. While we rejoice and celebrate the ordination of these six men, I need to point out that this is surely not enough. Please pray for vocations. We are in serious need. It is a good idea to encourage young men you know to consider if they are being called to the priesthood.

For more information about the Diocesan Priesthood in Philadelphia, visit www.heedthecall.org. Here is a special prayer for vocations.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, religious and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help us respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

© U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Clergy,
Consecrated Life and Vocations

God Bless You!
Fr. Bordonaro

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