FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR

 JUNE 5, 2026

The Body and Blood of the Lord

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi.  Each year the Church dedicates the second Sunday after Pentecost to pondering this sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament has been given to us by the Lord to nourish and sustain us on our pilgrim way to the banquet of Heaven.  Vatican II called us to a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist as the source and the summit of the Christian life.  At the Altar, Christ becomes really and truly present to us, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! Nothing less! And this sacrament is given to us for our transformation, so that we may become more like Jesus! Here is a passage from a Corpus Christi homily of Pope Leo last year to help us reflect on the gift of the Holy Eucharist this week:

In saving the crowds from hunger, Jesus proclaims that he will save everyone from death. That is the mystery of faith, which we celebrate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. For just as hunger is a sign of our radical needs in this life, so breaking bread is a sign of God’s gift of salvation.

Dear friends, Christ is God’s answer to our human hunger, because his Body is the bread of eternal life: Take this and eat of it, all of you! Jesus’ invitation reflects our daily experience: in order to remain alive, we need to nourish ourselves with life, drawing it from plants and animals. Yet eating something dead reminds us that we too, no matter how much we eat, will one day die. On the other hand, when we partake of Jesus, the living and true Bread, we live for him. By offering himself completely, the crucified and risen Lord delivers himself into our hands, and we realize that we were made to partake of God. Our hungry nature bears the mark of a need that is satisfied by the grace of the Eucharist. As Saint Augustine writes, Christ is truly “panis qui reficit, et non deficit; panis qui sumi potest, consumi non potest” (Serm. 130, 2): he is bread that restores and does not run short; bread that can be eaten but not exhausted. The Eucharist, in fact, is the true, real, and substantial presence of the Saviour (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1413), who transforms bread into himself in order to transform us into himself. Living and life-giving, the Corpus Domini makes us, the Church herself, the Body of the Lord.

For this reason, echoing the Apostle Paul (cf. 1 Cor 10:17), the Second Vatican Council teaches that “in the sacrament of the Eucharistic bread, the unity of believers, who form one body in Christ, is both expressed and achieved. All are called to this union with Christ, who is the light of the world, from whom we come, through whom we live, and towards whom we direct our lives” (Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 3)….

Strengthened by the food that God gives us, let us bring Jesus to the hearts of all, because Jesus involves everyone in his work of salvation by calling each of us to sit at his table. Blessed are those who are called, for they become witnesses of this love! POPE LEO

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST COMMUNICANTS AT HOLY INNOCENTS!

It is especially wonderful that on Corpus Christi this weekend we celebrate the First Communion of the children at Holy Innocents. Their joy at receiving this sacrament renews our appreciation of the gift we have all received in Jesus in the Eucharist. Congratulations to them all and to their families. May their love of Jesus continue to grow through this sacrament!

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Next Friday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We remember and give thanks for the passionate love of Jesus which flows from his wounded heart. This week we continue to reflect upon this great mystery with the second part of Pope Leo’s Pastoral Letter on the Sacred Heart. There is also another insert on how we can renew this devotion in our own lives and in our families. God’s love expressed in and through the heart of his beloved Son is what saves us and restores us to right relation to God and our neighbor.  The love we have received from Him is meant to flow outward from us so that all might know and be caught up into the love of God. May our devotion to the Sacred Heart in these days expand our hearts with his love and remind us of the call the we have received to pass on this love in our broken worldeHh

MASS DURING THE SUMMER

Summer is a time when many of us try to get out enjoy the nice weather and travel a bit.  It is a wonderful thing to rest in God’s creation for a while. As we experience the beauty of the mountains and sound over the summer, let us be mindful of the source of these wonderful blessings. There is no better time or reason to celebrate Sunday Mass than over the summer! The essence of Sunday Eucharist is offering thanks and praise for the many gifts he has given us. Whether you’re here or away, praying the Mass each Sunday helps us appreciate vacation time all the more. I hope you will take advantage of the universality of our Church, and take time to pray the Mass with other Catholics as you travel this summer… and also to make a priority to give God thanks and praise every Sunday here at Holy Innocents, St. Jude, and St Anthony. Our vacation time especially reminds us all the many reasons we have to give thanks to God.

Blessings on your week!

Fr. Johnson