~Come, O Holy Spirit, Come~
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray.  

And the blessings keep pouring in on our parish! This week one hundred and forty of our younger members made their First Communion. Sacramentally, they will enjoy the Eucharistic Christ in their hearts and souls. What an honor and privilege!
     The majority of us will recall what a day that was for us. Not only were we the object of affection and concern of our families and friends, but we also felt we were admitted into the circle of friends of Jesus. Now we could be part of the Mass. We were "in."
     My hope is that they will always consider themselves as an integral part of our community. As they receive the Eucharist and commune with the Lord, we all meet as one in the very same Lord. We become one mind, one heart in Christ. We form one family.
     As such, we must now be conscientious of our role to give good example to these "little ones." In imitation of the Good Shepherd, we as their elders should lead them to better pastures and offer them the riches of the inheritance God has left for us in the Eucharist.
     May we all, elders and little ones alike, become what we eat, namely other Christs.

Audio recordings of the daily Mass readings from the New American Bible are being provided by the U.S. Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) in association with the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Information on downloading the audio versions of the readings can be found on the popular "Daily Readings" section at www.usccb.org/nab.

General: Human Dignity. That Christians may use literature, art and mass media to create a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person.
Mission: Mary's Guidance. That the Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization and Queen of the Apostles, may still guide missionaries with maternal affection, just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church.

              For reflections on these intentions go to Pope's Prayer Intentions at
                                       www.apostleshipofprayer.org.