We just celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension. Just before ascending to the Father, Jesus gives the disciples the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature. In the Acts of the Apostles version of the Ascension, the crowd is staring up at the sky after the Lord disappears into the clouds and the two “clothed in white” challenge the awe-struck crowd to stop staring and start believing that the Lord is still with them so start proclaiming the good news! The fact of the matter is that we are now the hands and feet of Jesus and we need to start praying about how the Lord of Heaven and Earth wants us to do His work. I propose that we spend the upcoming days of summer getting closer to Christ and learning more about how we are to do His work on earth so we are well prepared to meet him in Heaven.
Spring is graduation season, and as our young disciples make their moves into high school, college, and that first job, let’s keep them in our prayers. Transitions are always challenging and the world presents some obstacles and uncertainties. Pray that these young-ones-on-the-move will make their life decisions with God by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give them the gift of wisdom as they move forward. Encourage our graduates by letting them know that you are praying for them; that’s perhaps the greatest graduation gift you could give.
And as we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, may we give thanks to God for our moms who have given us life, love, and faith. As I mark the first Mother’s Day without my mom here on earth, I am grateful for her life with me and grateful too for her new life where she is definitely interceding for me. I am mindful also of so many women in my life who have been like a mother to me, forming me in faith and teaching me how to live strong and love without condition. In this month of May dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we should give thanks for Mary’s witness of faith. Her trust in God and complete submission to God’s will is a great model for us, and I’m happy to have Mary as Mother of the Church watching over us as we fulfill the mandates of her son while we move through the joys and challenges of this life.
Yours in the Risen Christ
Welcome to the Saint Aloysius! Our parish was founded in 1896 to serve the Catholic families that were settling in the greater New Canaan area.