Happy Parish Feast Day everyone!
Today marks the feast day and solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! This feast day is usually referred to by its nickname, Corpus Christi, which are the Latin words for, “the body of Christ.” Not only is this a joyous feast day for the whole Church, but since it is the patronal feast day of our parish, it is even more meaningful for us!
We hope that all of you will join us in the outdoor Corpus Christi procession after the 9am Mass. This procession is a powerful witness to this most central mystery of our holy Catholic faith…the mystery by which our Lord Jesus Christ gives us his very body and blood in the Blessed Sacrament! This very sacred day draws us to reflect more deeply on this gift of the Eucharist, and how it nourishes us in this world, and provides a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for us in the kingdom of Heaven.
We also wish to offer our prayers and congratulations to all fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, adoptive and foster fathers on this FATHER’S DAY! May you continue to be good and holy fathers that inspire the members of your families to strive for the holiness that we are all called to.
For this coming week, we have 3 very important holy days to celebrate. On Thursday, June 23rd, the feast day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist occurs. This day reminds us of the very important role that John the Baptist plays in the earthly life of Christ, and therefore, in the life of the Church itself. Consider stopping by our neighboring parish of St. John the Baptist on this day and gaining for yourself (or for your deceased loved ones, or the souls in Purgatory) a PLENARY INDULGENCE. When you visit the church of St. John the Baptist, pray 1 “Our Father,” and recite either the Apostles Creed or the Nicene Creed. Then, full the usual 3 conditions: 1) receive holy communion, 2) pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary), and 3) go to confession, unless you have already been to confession within 20 days before, or will go in the next 20 days. Don’t pass up this chance to make use of an important tool on the path of holiness.
On Friday, June 24th, we will celebrate the feast day of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! This feast day, like the feast of Corpus Christi, calls us to meditate on the very real love that Christ has for us, as His human heart burns with divine and merciful love for all the world.
Finally, on Saturday, June 25th, we will celebrate the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. As disciples of Christ, we ought to never lose sight of the vital role that Mary plays in our lives. The more we love and honor the Blessed Mother, then the more we love and honor her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the evils and darkness that infest our world, let us take comfort in the words that the Blessed Virgin spoke when she appeared at Fatima in 1917… “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”
St. John the Baptist…pray for us! Most Immaculate Heart of Mary…pray for us!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus…have mercy on us!
~ Fr. Martin Gallagher
Blessed Sacrament Church 