Fr. Todd Bulletin Article 4/26/26

Dear Sacred Heart and St. Mary on the Lake,

                 I will be gone this week (Mon-Fri) to Mundelein Seminary (Mundelein is just north of Chicago) for my Spiritual direction course.  This was a three-year program and this week begins the final year.  It has been a great blessing for me personally in my priesthood, along with being a blessing in helping me minister better.  There are about 80 priests who are there for the week so it is also wonderful to spend time with my brothers in the presbyterate.  I will be praying for you if you could please pray for me. 

 This coming Sunday we will be celebrating our first Holy Communions.  Please keep these young ones and their families in your prayers.  It is always a great reminder for us in realizing the power of the Eucharist.  In this sacrament, Jesus gives Himself to us completely, totally, fully.  We are invited to give ourselves to Him completely, totally, fully.  May we approach Him present, with real openness and faith where the grace He gives can touch every part of our lives.  I remember one priest saying that we can sometimes have more faith in Tylenol than the Eucharist because when we take a Tylenol, we expect something to happen.  Do we expect anything to happen when we receive the Eucharist?  That simple question convicts me in how I approach praying the Mass and receiving the Eucharist.

For all our families with young kids: You are welcome at Mass!  Not just welcome- you are wanted at Mass!  I know it can be stressful and you may feel like others must surely be getting mad.  Not true!  A few weeks ago, our parishioner Bea Cuthbertson stopped by and we were rejoicing at all the young families and kids we have been seeing at Mass.  She later shared some bits of wisdom that had been passed onto her by her own Mom that she had found helpful and built upon in her own times of bringing little ones to Mass with her family.  I wanted to pass them along should they be of any help for you besides the encouragement to always come.

 1. Sit near the front! It might seem counterintuitive, but it’s not. If all a little one sees is the backs of adults in front of them, it gets overwhelming. They know something is happening, but what? They hear voices, but from where are they coming? Being close enough to see the altar, watch what is happening, and hear what is being said makes all the difference to a kid. They feel a part of the experience instead of a bystander.

2. Don’t worry about the neighbors around you. Honestly! If your little one cries, fusses, or outright throws a tantrum, remember that we’ve all had the same experience with kids in our lives. If someone shoots what feels like a disapproving glance, it may not be what you think it is. It could be concern or even a desire to help. [Because I am up front I can see what the people behind you are doing.  They are smiling and making faces (not angry ones either!) at your children.  You and your kids (including some of the suffering I see they are putting you through) bring so much joy to Mass.  Sometimes when I am celebrating Mass I need to bite my lip not to laugh out loud].

To be continued next week …

God Bless!  Fr. Todd