Dear Parishioners:
The OLM School Class of 2018 with Principal Scott Fuller, Fr. Barrow, Fr. Healey, Mrs. Kerins and Mr. Cleary.
This week we honor the thirty-one OLM Students graduating the 8th Grade. On Sunday at the 10:30am Mass these students join us as we offer our prayers and blessings for them. At this Mass we recognize the vital part they play in the life of our parish. Following the Mass, the graduates and their families gather for a luncheon in celebration of their many academic achievements. On Monday night please join us for the OLM School Graduation Ceremony at 6pm. We gather with our school administration, faculty, students, graduates and their family and friends. This ceremony is a meaningful way to recognize this milestone in the life of these young men and women. They leave our parish school and begin their journey to high school. Congratulations OLM Class of 2018!
Archbishop José H. Gómez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, recently delivered the commencement address at my alma mater, the Catholic University of America. His remarks to the Class of 2018 are fitting for our OLM graduates and worthy of reflection for all those graduating this year. The Archbishop states: “My prayer for you is that you will write a story that is filled with goodness, love and service; with prayer and giving thanks for simple gifts. I pray that you will always seek to know what is right — and have the courage to do it. People will tell you this vision is naïve; that it doesn’t pay; that we are too far gone for all that. Don’t believe them.”
Let us pray that indeed our OLM School graduates and all our young people “don’t believe” that they cannot strive to be saints in the City of Man. We pray for the Class of 2018 from OLM School but also we offer prayers for all those graduating any school this year. May God bless, guide and protect them all.
Fr. Connors defends his doctoral dissertation at the Angelicum University in Rome.
Speaking of graduation, last week I had the distinct honor to attend the doctoral defense of Fr. Connors. As you might imagine our erstwhile Associate Pastor was outstanding in defending his thesis before a panel of learned professors. One priest describing the event said to me, “it was like a group of peers having a discussion.” Indeed it was and I am happy to report that Father Connors was awarded his Doctorate of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) by the Angelicum University in Moral Theology. He is now to serve as a Professor of Theology at St. John’s Seminary in Boston where he will teach and guide young men preparing for the priesthood. We congratulate Fr. Connors on this outstanding achievement in his priestly life.
It was a true joy to be present at this momentous occasion with Fr. Connors, his dear parents, Joe and Lisa, and his many priest friends who live and study in Rome. We wish him well as he prepares for the next chapter of his priestly ministry and life. Of course, Fr. Connors is keeping a room here at OLM and you may see him around this summer as he is to help with Masses. While he is officially assigned to serve at St. John’s Seminary in Boston as a priest of the Diocese of Providence he has been officially assigned a residence here at OLM. Be sure to congratulate him when you see our new Reverend Doctor!!
With graduations behind us, summer is soon coming. In fact, OLM School ends this Friday at Noon! It’s hard to believe but school is going to be out and the summer fun for students is about to begin! Where did the year go? We offer our gratitude to our OLM School Principal, Scott Fuller, our excellent faculty, our supportive school families and the entire student body for another outstanding year. In particular we offer thanks and gratitude to OLM School Faculty members, Mary Ryan (2nd Grade) and Jill Hackett (3rd Grade) who are retiring from teaching. We thank them for their service and commitment to Catholic Education and OLM School. May God bless them with health, happiness and holiness!
The OLM Vacation Bible School is coming up soon. If you have a child or grandchild interested in having fun while learning about the faith, please register them. The OLM VBS is always a great week of fun, faith and community.
Also please note that next Sunday we honor our Fathers on Fathers Day as we offer Mass for them on Sunday. Please return your Fathers Day envelopes in memory of your beloved Fathers, living and dead. Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!