Pastor's Memo
Dear Friends in Christ,
Last weekend we celebrated First Communions at Sunday Mass. What a joyful day for these children and their families! Receiving Communion for the first time is such a special occasion, and it can help us reflect and ask ourselves how we can continue to treat the Eucharist as something special and how we can grow more deeply in our Eucharistic faith. Fortunately, the Church has some great practices! For example, we can make it a priority to go to Mass every weekend; we can abstain from eating any food before coming to Mass; we can come dressed in our "Sunday best;" we can receive as reverently as possible; we can say an act of thanksgiving after Mass; etc.
Another great practice of the Church that helps deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist is spending time in adoration. Adoration is time spent with God in quiet prayer. Every Catholic church has a tabernacle that has reserved Eucharistic hosts. When you spend time in adoration, you are spending time with Jesus. At STM, we also have a 24-hour adoration chapel with perpetual exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The US Bishops' Conference says that exposition is "an extension of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which occurs in every Mass: 'Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.' Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church."
Consider spending time in our adoration chapel or even signing up for a Holy Hour... it will do wonders for your faith... which will do wonders for your life!
I hope you have blessed weekend,
Fr. Clark