Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations to our Confirmandi!

Last Tuesday at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Abbot Hoover confirmed some of our parishioners.  Aubrey Walker, Rhett Evans, Ben Urdiales, and Thomas Tatum received their preparation along with St. Francis’s candidates.  It was a wonderful celebration of God the Holy Spirit as these young people were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This great Sacrament bestows the gifts of knowledge, understanding, wisdom, piety, counsel, courage, and fear of the Lord.  This sacrament confers a true seal, a sacramental character on their souls.  This helps them fulfill the promises of baptism in a ever greater way and to defend Christ and His Church against attacks from the world and the evil one.  May their reception of this sacrament remind us of the same grace we have received and to live it as fully as possible!

Next week May Crowning in Church
The past few months we have been emphasizing more our Marian devotion by the Latin Marian Antiphons after every Mass.  I have received some positive feedback regarding the practice; I hope it is helping all of us grow in appreciation for the great gift the Lord has given to us in His mother.  To aid us further, next Sunday at the 8:15 Mass will be the crowning of the Mary statue in the Church.  May being her month and all, we thought it would be appropriate.  Thank you to the Ladies Guild who provided the crown.  

May God bless you and Mary keep you,
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr