The warmer evenings mean more use of the outdoor patio. Here, Fr. Jon is showing off his “Texas-style” s’more at a Teen Mass – a Reese’s Cup substitutes for simple chocolate.
After the Easter lilies fill the church with the scent of spring, there’s a surge in parish activity through June. In our parish, the bishop usually comes for Confirmation in the week or two after Easter. This year, Bishop Emeritus Dennis Sullivan will confirm about 100 eighth graders and a handful of adults on April 18. On the following two Saturdays, another 100 or so second graders will receive First Holy Communion from Father Santa Teresa and me. This year, spring wedding season brings only five weddings, but before the summer lull our clergy will also meet for the final time with couples marrying in the more popular fall wedding season (this year, a total of 10). In June, our parochial school will graduate the Class of 2026 with a baccalaureate Mass on June 14.
Even as these spring events occur one after the other, most parish ministries begin to wind down, with final meetings usually taking place before Memorial Day. They include Walking with Purpose, our women’s ministry; That Man is You, our men’s ministry; Blaze for middle school girls; and Strive for middle school boys. They offer Christian formation for each demographic with the general format of large group presentations and small group sharing. Of course, the middle school programs also include activities for the girls and basketball (lots of basketball!) for the boys.
In the life of the larger Church, Bishop Joseph Williams will ordain men to the priesthood on May 16.
Of course, each spring brings unique events. On four Tuesdays in April and May, our parish will host a School of Discipleship, a little over two hours of a presentation by Catholic speaker Jeff Cavins, table sharing, and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. It will prepare parish leaders and catechists for a more intentional and more intense living of the Christian faith every day. The School has a proven track record in the bishop’s home state of Minnesota.
Nowadays, most of us associate Eucharistic processions with little villages in southern Europe. But this year, to accompany the nation’s 250th anniversary with prayer, eight young adult Catholics will travel the East Coast organizing Eucharistic processions. On June 14, these “pilgrims” will join us for the 9 AM Mass, then lead a procession up Grove Street to the Indian King Tavern on Kings Highway, a meeting place of the state legislature during the Revolution.
Why don’t we talk about how you can make Easter a springboard for your own surge of spiritual activity?
Fr. Jon is the pastor. Make an appointment with him at
http://bit.ly/4lSH9pm or scan the QR code.