Dear Parish Family,

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. This is also the first weekend of May, a month dedicated to Our Lady.

Today is also the day when 41 young boys and girls will celebrate their First Holy Communion at both the 10 AM and 12 noon Masses. I congratulate them as they come to the Lord's table for the first time.

Growing up our family gatherings always had a large number of kids gathered. The younger generation had our own table (the children's table), while the adults had theirs. As much as we, the younger ones, enjoyed being together it was always an honor to move to the adult table. Today, our second graders move up in a sense to the "adult table" - the Lord's altar. They have reached the age when the Church says to move these children of God to the Lord's table so that they can be nourished with the Eucharist - the Body and Blood of Our Lord.

Our 2nd graders did not come to this point on their spiritual journey by chance, but the Lord has called them here, and through their parents, catechists, and others they are now ready. I thank the parents of these children for they are the first teachers in the ways of the faith for their child. I thank Sr. Louise DelCarpine, M.P.F., for her tireless work as our Director of Religious Education. I thank Mary Cordes, our Religious Education Secretary, for her hard work, dedication, and support to this part in the life of our parish.

I thank our catechists who have taught our children. At St. Peter's Academy I thank Mrs. Bleeker for her hard work in preparing our 2nd graders. I thank our Religious Education catechists - Mrs. Debbie Freisinger, Mrs. Marisol Rowe, and Miss Maria Trovini - for their presence and hard work.

As I mentioned in this column the month of May is dedicated to Our Lady. On Monday, May 5th, we will have our Annual May Crowing of Our Lady at 7:30 in the church. All are invited! We will have a Scripture reading, a homily, and music during this important tradition in our Catholic Faith.

After the Council of Nicea II in 787, the public veneration of icons and images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints was no longer persecuted by some in the Church as though it were a form of idolatry. Thus, the tradition of crowning a statue of Mary arose in recognition of her heavenly position as Queen of Heaven and earth.

I thank the members of the Rosary Society and all who are working to help make our May Crowning not only a reality, but also a success.

With next weekend being Mother's Day our May Crowning is a great way to honor Mary, our Mother. Our Lady Queen of Peace Pray for us!

Lastly, I ask for your prayers for Fr. Jim Hamel. His is not only a former Parochial Vicar here in our parish but also my classmate. He is now (or will be very shortly) in Afghanistan as an Air Force chaplain. Please remember Fr. Jim and all who serve our country both overseas and at home.

Thank you for your Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure and for all that you do for our parish.

Love,
Fr. Larry