Dear brothers and sisters, members and friends of the Holy Family,
Greetings to all of you. During this last month of May, Holy Family celebrated Mother’s Day with a spectacular, elegant, stylish, rich and colorful High Tea! The MYO organized and served a five-course luncheon for nearly 60 attendees, the majority from the parish community. We prayed for all mothers and ladies of the parish, appreciating and recognizing their great contribution to our community.
On May 10 the Roman Catholic Clergy Deanery monthly zone meeting was held at Holy Family. As the host, I was joined by Chorbishop Sharbel, Fr. Mark Joppa, Fr. Peter Williams, Fr. Joseph Andrade, Fr. James Bernard, Fr. Michael Creagan, Fr. Grabner, and Fr. John Echert. It was an exceptional Lebanese style meal prepared by some of the ladies of our parish. It was also a farewell gathering for Fr. Creagan, who will be transferring from Saint Joseph in West St. Paul to St. Mary’s in Stillwater in July.
On Wednesday and Thursday May 17 & 18, Holy Family also celebrated the Thursday of the Feast of the Ascension with Liturgy Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. On Sunday May 21, the parish celebrated the First Holy Communion of five of its dedicated children, who received Jesus for the first time at Holy Family. The Faith Formation teacher in charge worked with unending dedication and commitment the entire year preparing our children in faith and religion. I thank the teachers and parents for encouraging their children in attending these classes. Holy Family takes this opportunity to thank the Faith Formation team, led by Gary Schwery, for preparing the parish children, ages 6 to 12, with a special focus on First Communion and Confirmation Sacraments. These children received a basket of memorable gifts including a bible, candle, Rosary, certificate, and Cross. In addition, there was a breakfast prepared specifically for the children.
We thank John Corey and the MYO team for leading our MYO, ages 13 to 18, and work year-long with dedication and commitment. The MYO group is planning to participate in the MYO National Retreat that will be held during this month at Walsh Catholic University in Ohio. We thank all who continue to support our youth so they may participate in these activities and we commend the MYO for their hard work in fundraising throughout the year to offset some of the expenses. I also thank on your behalf, again and again, the altar staff, lay deacons and readers, choir members, organists and our broadcasting team. All of them demonstrate their dedication and commitment through their actions.
On behalf of the Holy Family Church we thank you for your generosity, support, participation, dedication and commitment to your church, and may the Lord grant you always health, peace and joy. Your participation and support makes a huge difference and never goes unnoticed or forgotten. Your support is appreciated now more than ever. God bless you and your families and children and keep you safe and healthy. Please pray for the sick and suffering of our community.
The National Apostolate of Maronites NAM Convention will be held this year in Providence in Rhode Island. Hundreds of Maronite families, individuals and groups from across the US, will gather for 4 days in a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Our Holy Family representatives to the NAM are Mary Beth Dooher and Pat Anderson.
The Feast the Pentecost was held on Sunday, May 28. This is a great feast that marks the very birth of the church. By receiving the Holy Spirit, it received its spiritual birth and became conscious about its identity. Three years before this event, John the Baptist, seeing Jesus the Lord coming to him to get baptized, declared to all people that he, John, is baptizing people in a baptism of water for the forgiveness of sins, but someone who is great than he,"…which I am not worthy to untie his sandals, He will baptize you in the Spirit and fire." In fact, on Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the high room in Jerusalem in the form of tongues of fire and they started speaking all languages, declaring Jesus as the long waited Messiah, the Savior. This demonstrates how strong our baptism is, through which we receive the Holy Spirit by the grace of God.
Father’s Day. On Sunday, June 18, we will celebrate the Father’s Day. We pray for all the fathers the living and the dead. With the intercession of Saint Joseph patron of the Holy Family, may the Lord bestow his blessings and mercy on them. A gesture of appreciation will be handed to the beloved fathers in the community.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
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