Dear Friends,
The printer of our weekly parish bulletin, John Patrick Publishing Company, is re-locating to Pennsylvania from New Jersey. As you might expect, moving printing presses and all the operations is a complex and time-consuming project. They have made arrangements to continue getting the bulletins to all the parishes they serve but the deadline for the bulletin information going to them has been moved forward during this time. So instead of working on this column early in the week before you see it, I am writing it about 10 days or so before. The earlier deadline works fine but sometimes, it is difficult to keep information more current. Be sure to check our social media which is updated frequently.
This weekend, Archbishop Peréz ordained seven men to the Priesthood at our Cathedral Basilica. One of them, as you probably know, spent some time here with us for his pastoral formation. We congratulate and offer prayers for now Reverend Anthony Albanese and all his classmates as they begin their priestly ministry in our Archdiocese. Did you know that Monsignor Murray celebrated 55 years a priest on May 18 and Father Graebe is celebrating his first anniversary, May 21? Please pray for all our priests and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood.
Next weekend will be Memorial Day weekend and of course the unofficial start of summer. It is hard to believe that we are already here. We pray for and remember all the heroic men and women who died while serving in our military. May God grant them eternal peace in His Kingdom. And may you and your loved ones have a blessed and safe holiday weekend.
In our Alleluia verse this weekend we are reminded of Jesus’ words, “I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.” And in this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus says to His Father, “I pray for them.” How much comfort we should take from Jesus’ words. He does not leave us orphans. He will come back. Our hearts will rejoice. Jesus is praying for us now. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
