Dear Parishioners,
Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The early church struggled with a common problem: who was in and who was not. The requirements were related to the cultural and religious practices of Jewish converts. Similar questions plague us to this day regarding who belongs in our country, our neighborhoods, our schools, even our church. The answers are easily found in Jesus’ call to keep his word of love and peace. You would think we would have figured it out by now, but tribalism runs deep.
Next weekend we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. On this feast of the Ascension, we remember that Christ’s ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain (Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 665). This feast reminds us that like the first disciples, we are not to dally “looking up at the sky,” but are to get busy proclaiming the glory of God’s kingdom by the witness of our lives.
A Word about the Ascension: In MOST of the United States the Bishops have moved the Feast of the Ascension from the Thursday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter (this year May 30) to the Sunday following, this year, June 2. So May 30 is NOT a Holyday of Obligation in this part of the United States. If you are in the Northeast or in Nebraska it is; so if you aren’t traveling there next week, do not worry!
Deacon Ray Miller: Our long time Permanent Deacon, Millard Ray Miller, died on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. His funeral was celebrated here on Friday, May 24, with burial in our cemetery. We prayerfully remember Ray, and assure Rose, and her family, of our thoughts and prayers. Ray was ordained on June 6, 1992, and during his time here at Saint Monica he had his hands in many ministerial activities. Sacramentally here at Saint Monica he celebrated the baptisms of 71 people. (I’m sure he had other baptisms elsewhere.) Imagine the impact of Deacon Ray’s ministry with just that number! Please pray for all ordained ministers, deacons, priests, and bishops, as they strive to fulfill the commission given to them by our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray, too, for all who are in formation to be ordained, that the Lord would be with them and assist them in their studies and prayers!
Congratulations to ALL graduates. To all who are graduating this year, we all want to wish you sincere congratulations. In the bulletin for the Ascension, June 1 and 2, we will list all those who WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED this year. So, if you are graduating this year, and would like to have your name in the bulletin that weekend, please send a note to Patty Greaves, [email protected] with your name, school, degree (if college), and major if you wish. Other than our own 8th graders we will only list those who wish to have their names listed. Thank you. The bulletin deadline for the June 2 bulletin is the morning of Tuesday, May 28.
Our Parish School year ended at noon last Friday. Again, I want to thank all the school and parish community for the support of our school. We thank Mrs. Genny Callier, who is leaving this year, for her three years of service as our Principal. I would also like to thank the faculty members of our school who will not be returning next year. They are Mark Baker, Angela Caltagirone, Mark Mulligan, Terri Rell, and Carolyn Riggle, Thank you for your service here at Saint Monday. May the Lord bless you in your future endeavors.
Building: A lot of progress is being made each week with the renovation of the Parish Hall and the construction of the new elevator lobby. There will be periodic pictures in the bulletin. There were many good comments about the pictures in last week’s bulletin. Hopefully you will “enjoy” the pictures as they are placed in the bulletin in future weeks.
Wednesday Rosary and Adoration: As we have been doing throughout the school year the Rosary at 7:45 A.M. on Wednesday mornings will continue to be for the school community: students, parents, faculty, and staff, along with the needs of the parish. (The Rosary the other days of the week will remain at 7:40 A.M.) Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament will continue each Wednesday, throughout the summer, following the 8:15 A.M. Mass until 9:00 P.M. … normally in the side Chapel / Cry Room. If there are exceptions we will put it in the bulletin and try to send out a “blast e-mail.” PLEASE remember that the chapel / cry room is available for prayer “24/7/365” by entering through the Southwest Corner of the Church, “the sacristy entrance.” While the rest of the Church gets locked each evening, that room is ALWAYS available.
Priesthood Ordinations for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis took place on Saturday morning, May 25th. Please pray for all the newly ordained priests, not just here but throughout the world. Please also pray for the parishes to which they will be assigned, that the people there will lovingly accept them and love them as you show forth your love to Fr Mike and me.
Memorial Day: On Monday morning, Memorial Day, we will only have a 9:00 A.M. Mass. Following that we will have a brief ceremony at our parish / school flag pole. Following that our Scouts will decorate the graves of the veterans who are buried here in our cemetery, with American flags (as many will have decorated graves at Jefferson Barracks later today, May 26th). If you are a veteran, please consider bringing some of your uniform, to wear at the ceremony. If you are a member of the American Legion, the VFW, AMVETS, or some other Veterans Organization, and there are “uniform” caps for those organizations, certainly bring / wear the appropriate attire. Decoration Day, established by the South during the Civil War, is one of the oldest civic celebrations that we have in our nation. It is a very appropriate time to remember those who have died preserving our freedom and pray that we might remain “one nation, under God, with liberty, and justice for all.” Thank you.
Father Mike Donald’s farewell reception will be on Sunday, June 23nd following the 11:30 A.M. Mass. Because of the construction, the reception will be in the Parish Gym (don’t worry, it is air conditioned!). I hope you will mark your calendar now for that day to say THANKS to Fr. Mike for his dozen years of ministry here as our Senior Associate Pastor.
May God bless us all. May God bless America.
In the Risen Lord Jesus,
Father Joe Weber