It’s hard to believe that this is the first weekend in May already! Fr. Peter Devlin, our Irish visitor, will be arriving a little earlier this year on May 11 next week. We welcome him as usual and hope the weather cooperates for his stay with us.

Last Sunday at the 9 a.m. Mass we had a graduation ceremony for the Kindergarten children in our Faith Formation Program. Their excitement and enthusiasm was contagious and we applauded their success!!

This weekend we begin our First Communion celebrations; next weekend will be our third and final one. Each year as we welcome these little children into the second step in their Initiation process into the church we feel the hope and promise for the future. While it is a special time for family and friends to gather, first and foremost it is a celebration of God’s love and grace in these children’s’ hearts. We pray that what God has begun in them will be brought to completion in the years to come.

As the Faith Formation Program for our younger children winds down, I want to express gratitude from the whole parish to those who have dedicated themselves to our children all year: catechists, helpers, parents and all who have contributed to the formation of our children. I want to say a special Thank You to Pat Conte who has done a superb job of coordinating this large program. The countless hours she spends in preparation mostly go unseen by the majority, but the end results are evident to all. She is a woman of deep faith who believes strongly in the importance of forming our young people in their faith. May God continue to bless her and give her His gracious care.

Finally…let’s hope the weather warms up!!!!!