Dear Friends,
The peonies are beginning to bloom! The fragrance and colors (yellow is my favorite) bring fond memories to me of this being the month of June. I think back to my graduations from grammar school, high school and college and how my mother’s gardens were magnificent. The home graduation parties always were decorated with her beautiful blooms!
This past week graduation announcements and invitations have been arriving. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the graduates picture(s) on the invitation and where they will be heading in the months ahead. Excitement is forthcoming as these fine young people get ready for colleges, universities and service in our nation’s armed forces. I am so blessed to know these gifted individuals. “I am young, just not as young as I used to be” and find myself in awe that I baptized some of these graduates, gave them their First Communion, had their good souls next to me as altar servers and worshipped with them often.
Next weekend, on June 9th, we will celebrate our High School graduates from Saint Catherine of Siena and the Church of the Transfiguration with a Baccalaureate Mass! It will be at the 8:45 mass. We are hoping that our Seniors and their families will have sent Anne Gallagher (Anne.Gallagher@dor.org) their Senior picture and a baby picture that we can use at mass. Please join these wonderful young women and men, their families, friends and our Parish Staffs as we lift the graduates up in prayer!
June has many joys and blessings before our parishes! This weekend we have another First Communion at 4 PM and a Baptism at 10:45 AM. Two special lives reminding us of the Lord’s great love and how fortunate we are to be part of our church family!
Also, on Saturday, June 1st, Mendon will host the first Firemen’s Parade of the season. It will begin around 7PM and is always a great parade. Fire Departments from many towns participate along with bands, folks tossing candy to the crowds and everyone being led up Mendon-Ionia Road to the Firemen’s Field for the last night of the Mendon Carnival. A good spot for parade watching is right on the church property of Saint Catherine’s. Bring a chair, a beverage and snack and enjoy a nice evening.
June 11th our Parish Pastoral Councils will gather for a year end bar-b-que. They have worked very hard and prayerfully guiding our parishes into a healthy, spiritual and vibrant future as church. These dedicated stewards have been wonderful to be among and I thank them for their presence. I sincerely and gratefully thank Yvonne Wambach and Rich DiMarco for their leading the councils this year. They did an outstanding job.
June 15th will mark the closure of this year’s 19th Annotation with mass at 4 PM. Once again, I have been hearing great things about and from the individuals who participated in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. If you haven’t had this grace filled experience, let me know, as there will be another opportunity to do so coming soon.
Anyone I have known has never been disappointed they took advantage of this spiritual journey.
June 20th is our summer solstice and the “official” beginning of summer!! With this new season, the month of June will continue with more baptisms, Diocesan Priesthood Ordinations, graduation celebrations, beginning of summer vacations, and times to enjoy the beautiful days before us!
God is good! We are so fortunate to be among one another and the beautiful creation that surrounds us!
With joys and blessings to all,
Father Rob