Come to the Table

     Let me begin by apologizing for this morning's post.  For whatever reason, my formatting program went haywire.  If you had trouble reading the post, forgive me.

     This weekend gives me so much to reflect upon.  I'll have enough for a week.  So, in no particular order of importance, here we go.

     Yesterday saw the first of two celebrations of the First Holy Communion of youngsters from our parish.  Seventeen gathered with family and friends at a special liturgy at 1:00 pm to be embraced by the Lord in his love for them and to "come to the table".

     As yesterday's scriptures pointed out, the early community of believers were known for the communal life, the gathering for prayer together, and the breaking of the bread.  The bread was broken so that it could be shared, eaten, digested, and become integrated into the very fabric of their lives.  Today, we, as Church, gather for Eucharist - especially the Sunday Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our lives - in order to follow in their footsteps.  In the Rites of Initiation, we enter through Baptism, are strengthened on our journey through Confirmation, and come, ultimately, to the Table of the Lord ... to be fed and nourished for our journey of a lifetime.  Yesterday was a great day for the Church, for this parish, for me, their shepherd, and for our young people and their families.  I had fun.  The rest of their sacramental class will come to the table on May 15th.

     We congratulate those who received Jesus yesterday in Holy Communion: Shelby Baker, Brianna Coulson, Anna Dermis, Matthew Faccenda, Lukas Finn, Hanna Geissler, Isabella Harshman, Colby Horvath, Carlin Jacob, Shaun Kellerman, Taylor Krniach, Alexander Legnine, Nicholas Mandella, Jordan Mastalerz, Janna Uziel and Mackenzie Yaniga.  May they keep Jesus as their closest friend and companion.  Pray for them, their classmates on the 15th, and all who in this holy season will come to the Altar of God.