May 12, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

I thought of the Feast of the Ascension, which we celebrate this weekend, when I watched the Kentucky Derby with some parishioners a few weeks ago. To me, the Ascension is like the horses entering the stall before the race. The pop going off and the gate opening to start the race would be Pentecost. Christ goes to Heaven so he can send us the Holy Spirit, and with the Holy Spirit, received at Pentecost, we run the amazing race of life. So, make the sign of the cross when the Preakness starts this Saturday…not to win your bet, but to praise God for his gift of the Holy Spirit.

               We’re entering the stall this weekend. We can touch the starting gate. Soon it will drop. But before then, stay in the stall. Stay in your heart this week. Pray for excitement for the Holy Spirit. Pray for clarity on what God is calling you to do at this point in your life. For there is a mission ahead of you. Even if you think you’ve fulfilled your missions–your children are grown, you’ve served in some volunteer capacity, you’re retired–there is more for you. There is always a new mission to love and serve God, and to love and serve the flock. And if you think you’re too young, too insignificant, too poor or uneducated or ugly or damaged to have a mission…nonsense. You are just the person Jesus wants on the front lines of his mission.

               Yes, the Ascension is a glorious day. It is a sign that we are called to something great. Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you the mission and give you the grace to go out and accomplish it.

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Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you to all the women and mothers of the parish for their love, their care, and their witness to mercy. I have invited a mother after communion at all the Masses this weekend to give a short reflection on what motherhood means to them and how, in particular, they have found God in being a mother. Thank you to Emily Gleason (Saturday 4:30pm), Mary Regina “Reggie” Reither (7:30am), Meredith Santucci (9am), Denise “Dee Dee” Andrin (10:30am), Megan McLaughlin (HFC 10:30am), and Susan Clifford (12pm) for your witness of motherhood and for speaking to us.

               This weekend is a special Catholic Charities Mother’s Day collection. This collection supports mothers seeking greater food security, pregnant mothers seeking guidance and aid, and wounded mothers seeking safety and refuge from domestic violence. There are special envelopes in the church, if you wish to contribute this way. Thank you for your generosity.

               This past Saturday, May 11th, our parish sent a group down to Our Lady of the Angels mission on the west side to help serve the poor. Thank you to Leni Duffy and the Faith Hope and Charity Women’s Guild for organizing the service event.

               The Parish Pastoral Council will meet this Monday, May 13th. A special thank you to Patti Nowak, the Chair of the PPC, and all the members for their work and dedication to our parish.

               On Wednesday, May 15th SPC School will have its May Crowning Mass at 1:30pm. Congratulations to the 8th graders and those selected to crown the Blessed Mother: Lily de Tagyos as the crowner and Tom Zelic as the escort; and the court: Abby Bomely, Chase Fantuzzi, Emmett Foster, Mary Anne Gleason, Maddie Haran, Noah Howski, Abby Seurynck, and Griffin Teresievich.

               The SPC School Play, Annie Jr., is this Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30pm. Good luck, cast and crew, and break a leg.

               The Respect Life Committee will be hosting a Candlelight Rosary this Thursday, May 16th at 7:30pm in the Church.

               A special congratulations to our seminarian Lee Noel, who was ordained a deacon this past Friday, May 10th back in Cheyenne, Wyoming, his diocese. We look forward to having Lee back with us in the fall and assisting as a seminarian-deacon.

               Next Saturday, May 18th at 10am at Holy Name Cathedral, Deacon Martin Nyberg will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Father Martin will celebrate his first Mass as a priest at his home parish, St. Edward’s in Chicago, the next day, on Sunday, May 19th at 11am. We will be fortunate to have Father Martin with us for the next two months until he begins his first assignment on July 1st as the associate pastor at St. Josaphat Parish in Chicago. Congratulations, Father Martin. We are very proud of you and we look forward to your many years of service as a priest of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Father James.