Through the prophet Isaiah, GOD INVITES ALL OF US:

"COME TO ME: LISTEN, THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE" (Isaiah 55:3). THIS IS AN INVITATION TO CONVERSION. This is an invitation to the NEW COVENANT with God, leading to Eternal Life. This is an invitation to RETURN TO GOD. This is an invitation to leave behind our worldly foolishness and attachments to sin. This is an INVITATION TO RETURN TO THE CONFESSIONAL (RECONCILIATION with God) and return to MASS and the EUCHARIST.

Because of the pandemic, many of us have not yet returned to the church to participate in the MASS, the HEAVENLY BANQUET. GOD wants all of us to LISTEN TO HIS WORD, to listen attentively. ISAIAH's invitation is being fulfilled in OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE IS OUR TEACHER. HE is the ONE to change our lives. HE is the one to give us that promise of Eternal Life. HE IS THE ONE WHO FEEDS US WITH HIS OWN FLESH: "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; WHOEVER COMES TO ME WILL NEVER HUNGER“ (John 6: 35). HE is the one to give us ALL THE GRACE sufficient to face the daily challenges and sufferings we all face. “COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST!” (Matthew 11:28). JESUS is the only one who gives us that PEACE, that REST here on earth and then in Heaven. COME BACK to the HOUSE OF GOD: JESUS IS WAITING FOR YOU! COME!

It has been my JOY to see so many people returning to church, to be fed by the Word of God (first part of the Mass: The Liturgy of the Word) and the BREAD OF LIFE (second part of the Mass: The Liturgy of the Eucharist). Like the crowds following Jesus 2,000 years ago, we all need to LISTEN TO JESUS ATTENTIVELY. In these hot and humid days of Summer, Jesus invites us to OPEN OUR BIBLES and to MEDITATE IN SILENCE on JOHN's CHAPTER 6 as we began last SUNDAY with the MIRACLE OF THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE BREAD, and now continue with the " BREAD OF LIFE" (John 6:22-59) discourse.

It was a JOY for grandparents and grandchildren to come to Mass last Sunday. Smiles and balloons in the Narthex! As I announced from the pulpit, we would like to promote more interactions between our youth and the elderly during August. If you have grandchildren, reach out to them in a special way. Have you sent them the quiz we had in last week's bulletin?

Whether you are young or retired, if you hear the Lord calling you to share your faith, consider volunteering to assist the children and youth at our parish. As of now, we have 17 adults that have volunteered to assist as Catechists for our CCD to begin in September (Sunday, September 12, celebration of our parish's 41st anniversary). We need more catechists!  Speak with Fr. Jan, Sister Rosario, Marlen Coles, or myself, or call our office.

We are also beginning on a pilot basis a "PARISH HOME- SCHOOLING" for FIRST GRADERS this September. We will assist parents that are working full-time and are unable to provide full homeschooling alone. By using a faithfully CATHOLIC Home School Program (Seton Home Schooling Program) we will support a strong CATHOLIC EDUCATION for first graders. It will be a continuation of the support provided by our Early Learning Center to "OUR LADY's LITTLE CHRISTIANS” (currently 4 and 5 years old). We need one teacher (could be a retired teacher). Consider helping us (see below).

Pope Francis invited all grandparents and elderly to DREAM by quoting the Prophet Joel: “Your OLD men shall DREAM DREAMS and your YOUNG men will have VISIONS" (Joel 3:1). This is countercultural: we tend to believe that the young should be the dreamers and the old should be the visionary. But God has another way to look at us. While everyone can DREAM, we should keep DREAMING more and more as we get older. Dreams keep our hearts pumping with excitement and keep us young. Our youth many times are lost in a world more and more individualistic where direct human connections are replaced but technological tools that keep us isolated though giving an appearance of connections. The dreams of the elderly shared with the youth will help them to discover their purpose in life. I invite everyone to DREAM. My current little dream is to begin this first-grade pilot homeschooling program. I dream that volunteers, including retired teachers, will come forward and assist us in making this dream a reality for our youth: an affordable strong Catholic education!

May we all be attentive in listening to the Word of a God. COME TO ME: LISTEN THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE says the LORD! May The HOLY SPIRIT and MARY help all of us to be generous in responding to JESUS' CALL for sharing our Faith with our children and youth!

One in Christ,

Fr. Alain