Summer may change our schedule, but it shouldn’t change our faith lives

The month of June is a month of milestones in so many lives. While it is the half-way point in our calendar year, June holds beautiful and lasting memories of weddings, graduations and ordinations for many Catholics. This June is no exception.
 
While the diocese observes five-year ordination anniversaries in the month of May, so many of our priests’ anniversaries are actually in the month of June. Again, this year is no exception for 21 of our priests observing special anniversaries. I ask you to please pray for them and for all our priests, your pastors and associate pastors.
 
The month of June is a very important month in the life of our Catholic Church, especially for the solemnities and feasts which are celebrated. If you have one of the calendars your parish provides around Christmas each year, take a look at this month. What should catch your eye immediately is that each Sunday of June this year celebrates a specific solemnity, all of which are at the heart of our Catholic faith and life.
 
In order, the solemnities on the five Sundays of June are: the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) and SS. Peter and Paul. There are two other solemnities in June, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) and the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 27). There are two feasts of Our Lady in June: the day after Pentecost is the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and, the day after, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
 
I cite these important days in June and in our lives as a reminder that even though our schedules may change as far as school and work go, our lives of faith should not change in the sense that we take time off from them. Please continue to attend Mass and receive the sacraments of penance and the Most Holy Eucharist frequently. We know that they are our best safeguards for our faith.
 
Enjoy this month of June and enjoy even more your faith by living it and sharing it with your families, friends and neighbors.