Spring brings more sacraments to our young parishioners. This past weekend our 10th Grade high school parishioners were confirmed. The first two weekends in May our 2nd Grade parishioners will receive their First Communion.
We will have 171 communicants who have completed Year 1 and Year 2 of the Blessed Program, as well as those in our sacramental preparation in our Family Sacrament Group. We are also very happy that our special needs children are part of this wonderful sacramental celebration.
During our religious education program, the children learned about God’s great and unconditional love and forgiveness during their preparation for First Reconciliation, which occurred this past January.
In preparation of their First Communion, they learned about the mystery and miracle when Jesus gave us His body and blood at the Last Supper, which was also the Apostles’ First Communion.
The children know that Jesus is the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and that by receiving the Eucharist, they receive God’s grace to help them make healthy decisions in their lives.
Our program stresses to the children that they are Blessed by God and God always loves them and that He can help them be the best version of themselves. Our program ended with the Blessing Cup Retreat with Ray Boswell in our Church with their parents/guardians.
This year we are bringing back a beloved First Communion Saint Helen tradition where the children will proceed into and around the entire Church before the First Communion Mass begins as a group for all the family and friends to see them.
Then the children will exit in the procession as a group after the Mass. The children will present a special secret gift to the parents, families and friends. (You will have to be there to see the gift.)
Let us all support and pray for the faith development of our young parishioners as they receive their First Communion on May 4 and May 11, 2024.
God Bless You All,
Msgr. Tom
