This is really an important time for us at Our Lady of Hope. It is during this time of the year that 23 young people will come to know Jesus in a special way as they receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time. It is a time of great joy for them and their families, but it also is an important time for all of us. Each year as celebrate the First Eucharist with our families I am reminded of my own First Communion. Even after all these years it is a day that I can remember vividly. Oh things have changed to be sure. The water fountains are not covered so that none of us could make a serious mistake and take a drink of water and prevent us from participating in the great day. There are no loving but strict nuns carefully inspecting our every movement and reprimanding us for fidgeting with our uncomfortable clip up ties. There is no immediate response to the almighty clicker which told us when to stand and sit and kneel. The mass is in English not some language that only the priest understood. But one thing remains constant, we received the greatest gift that God could give to us and so do these children we celebrate with in 2010. Yes, the way that we do it may be different but the experience is still the same, we have a personal close relationship with Jesus Christ and we become more a part of the community of faith.
These young people and their families will thank me for helping them to have this memorable experience but I really think that all of us in this parish should be thanking them for allowing us to participate in their big day. When I see the joy and the reverence and the specialness that each of these children and their families exhibit, I am humbled and forced to look at my own experience of the Eucharist, not when I was a child but right now. I am forced to ask myself how special I feel as I receive the Lord. I must look at my attitude as I continue to receive the great gift of God. When I do this I am reluctant to admit that sometimes I take the gift for granted and I realize that every time I receive the Lord is a special and important moment in my life. I realize that I sometimes take the reception of communion for granted and do not properly prepare for the reception of such a gift. As the children receive the Eucharist for the first time I am called upon to renew my belief in the miracle of the Eucharist and the gift that God is giving to me each time I receive it. As a parish, this time of First Communion should be a time of renewal and the blessings given to our young people and to their families are blessings shared with the community that they are a part of.
Congratulations and prayers to all who will be receiving Eucharist for the first time. Thanks to their families for supporting them during the time of preparation. Thanks to all who worked to teach and prepare them for this special day. May the joy of the Eucharist be renewed in all of us.
Next Sunday is the first Sunday of May and we will begin Mary’s month by having a May crowning. I hope that as many of you as possible could join our young people in honoring the Blessed Mother during this month that is set aside as a special time of devotion to her. We will do the crowning of Mary immediately after the 11 o’clock mass next Sunday. It is not a long service but it is a good time to introduce the devotion of Mary to our young people. Another way is to recite the rosary together during the month of May as a family or join those who pray the rosary each day prior to the 8:30 AM Mass. The Blessed Mother had a role in the salvation of all and it is fitting that we give her the honor and respect due to being the mother of our God. Try and make the month of May a special time of prayer in honor of Our Lady of Hope.
In my state of the parish talk I mentioned that we needed to have more fun together as a parish and the young people took me up on that challenge. Our Youth Group is sponsoring a parish night at the Schaumburg flyers game June 29th. This is a night for all of us to enjoy some baseball and not go broke trying to pay for it. Tickets are only $10 and where can you go for $10 anymore. Our choir will be doing the National Anthem and it looks like a great time for all. Order those tickets today.
Have a great week. Know you are loved and live that love.
Fr. Clem