Congratulations to our Eighth Grade students and all who are graduating this year from grade school, high school, colleges or universities, trade schools, etc.  Our prayers are with you as you move on to the next milestone in your life.   God plants seeds of knowledge, wisdom, courage, understanding and creativity in each of us. True education is learning how to use these gifts to create a better world for all; not just ourselves.  My prayer for each person who is graduating is that God will accompany you through your life and that this journey will be happy and productive.

  

This Friday, we will hold the closing Mass for our students at Blessed Sacrament School.  With that, we will begin our summer break.  Classes will resume in August.  Please remember, a break from school does not mean a break from Jesus.   Make time for worship and prayer and take Him with you as you go on your summer break.  

Deacon Paul Lesupati will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 28 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception beginning at 10 am.  He will celebrate his First Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 29, at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament.  A reception will follow in the school cafeteria.  Deacon Paul hails from Marsabit, Kenya.  He first studied with the Franciscans and then took a break to discern his vocation.  For a time, he worked as a social worker at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya.   This is where I met him.  After I came back to Springfield, Deacon Paul was soon accepted as a candidate for our diocese and came to the U.S. for studies.   After his ordination to the priesthood, he will travel to Kenya to visit family for a month and then return to Springfield where he will be assigned as an assistant pastor at the Cathedral.   Please keep him in your prayers and pray for vocations to the priestly and religious life.  

There will be a Memorial Day Field Mass at Calvary Cemetery, 2001 N. First Street, Springfield, on Monday, May 30 at 9:30 AM.  Bishop Paprocki will be the celebrant.  All are welcome.  You may wish to bring your own lawn chair for sitting.

Blessed Sacrament Garden Party will be held on Wednesday, June 8 from 5-8 pm on the parish grounds.  There will be rides, and food and entertainment for all ages.   Make plans today to join our parish family for an evening of fun.  

The Annual Corpus Christi Procession is scheduled for Sunday, June 19 following the 10:30 Mass.  We encourage you to join us as we carry the Blessed Sacrament through our neighborhood.  Our route is to walk south on Glenwood to Ash Street and then over to Walnut and back north to the church.  We will have four stops along the way for prayer and the blessing.  

Sunday, May 29 - Father Paul's First Mass at 10:30 AM and Reception following

Saturday, June 4 - Parish Rummage Sale

Wednesday, June 8 - Garden Party RETURNS 5 PM to 8 PM

Sunday, June 19 - Corpus Christi Procession following 10:30 AM Mass