Pastor's Notes for June 10

Dear Parishioners,
Work on the preschool room is preceding well. New windows, a little room for a bathroom, and some paint, and it will be up and ready! Thanks to a generous donation, I am happy to see that the costs of this project, in addition to the purchase of the supplies and furniture, is already covered.
I am pleased to report that the Diocesan Capital Campaign continues to do well. There is still time to make a contribution, or to make an additional one. St. Anne's and St. Mathias both are short of the goal, but OLV and St. Mary's (assuming all the pledges are paid) are set. Remember that every cent over goal returns to the parishes, and what a great way to make a contribution!
This weekend is the feast of Corpus Christi. In preparation for the Eucharistic procession at St. Mathias, I re-read the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia by Pope John Paul II. A beautiful document, not too long of read, I recommend it to your reading, found at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/special_features/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_ecclesia_eucharistia_en.html. I am especially fond of paragraph 8: "[E]ven when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation. The Son of God became man in order to restore all creation, in one supreme act of praise, to the One who made it from nothing. He, the Eternal High Priest who by the blood of his Cross entered the eternal sanctuary, thus gives back to the Creator and Father all creation redeemed. He does so through the priestly ministry of the Church, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. Truly this is the mysterium fidei which is accomplished in the Eucharist: the world which came forth from the hands of God the Creator now returns to him redeemed by Christ." (¶8)
In Christ,
Fr. Todd