Dear Brothers and Sisters, On the weekend of April 30th/ May 1st we will celebrate the First Communions of around forty children from the parish. There will be a number receiving at all the Masses. At Baptism their parents promised to bring them up in the faith and to be the first teachers of the faith. Their parents have worked with them in the Family Centered Faith Formation and communion classes to prepare them for this day. As we planned the ceremonies I have asked that the parents and family come forward together to present their child for First Communion and to receive the sacrament with their child. Any teaching program is only as good as the example the child receives from their parents.. Their parents presence and active participation in the program and at Mass shows by example their commitment to their faith. Thank you all for your active participation. The same weekend the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the Holy Family prayer program with a visit to this parish of an icon of the Holy Family. It is an opportunity for the parish to reflect on what family means and the example that the Holy Family gives to us in our own Family life. The Icon will be displayed in the sanctuary and there will be opportunity to honor the holy family and to ask their blessing as families present their children to receive the body and blood of the Lord for the first time. The Holy Family prayer program is the 17th Marian prayer Program sponsored by the Knights. The first program honored Mary under her Title as Lady of Guadalupe in 1979. Since then Mary has been honored under her tile of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our lady of Czestochowa, and many other titles. It is fitting as we honor Mary as part of the Holy Family that we realize that it was her yes that gave us our Savior who is present with us at all times in the Eucharist. He told his disciples that He would be with them till the end of time. Let our Journey continue. Christ be with me Christ before me Christ behind me. Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl