Happy Sunday!

The church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th! On this day, Pope Leo XIV will impose the pallium, which is the ecclesiastical vestment worn by archbishops. It is worn around the neck of the archbishop that rests upon the chasuble. It is made of wool and is decorated with six crosses. The process of making this pallium begins on the feast of Saint Agnes on January 21st.

Happy Sunday!

Today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ reminds us of who we carry close to our hearts. When we hear of the offering of bread and wine by Melchizedek, the traditions of the Eucharist expressed by Saint Paul and the feeding of the five thousand, together they reveal God’s fundamental role as Nourisher of Mankind.

Happy Father’s Day!

This weekend we pause for a brief moment for a debt of gratitude for fathers and honor them for their sacrificial love of the family. This is the natural ability of these men who are faithful to their wives and families. As fathers journey and lead their families in fatherhood, they are reminded to impart justice and mercy in their household.

When I was a seminarian almost 20 years ago, a bank vice president taught us etiquette classes. She said, “Gentlemen, please make sure your breath isn’t bad. Take some breath mints before you hear confessions, okay?” We nervously laughed because the proximity that makes breath noticeable (whether pleasant or not) can be a bit awkward.

When Jesus breathes on his Apostles (John 20:22), he must have been within inches of at least some of them.

Happy Ascension Sunday!

As of May 29th, it has been 40 days since our Easter Celebrations! We give thanks to God for our newly baptized sons and daughters of the church. Our parish is blessed to welcome these new members and continue to foster their faith in the parish family of Saint Joan of Arc.

The Ascension of the Lord is transferred to June 1st and will be celebrated at all the Sunday regular Mass times.