I am writing this article way ahead of time as I will be on retreat this coming week. So we could have a new Pope by the time you are reading this. So either pray for the new Pope or pray for the college of Cardinals as they listen to the Holy Spirit in revealing the next Vicar of Christ.
Retreats are a good thing. If you have not been on one it would be something to consider. There are many retreat houses around the country. The one I spent the week at is the Redemptorist retreat center in Oconomowoc. Once a year diocesan priests are to take a retreat. This one is the spring retreat hosted by the diocese. A priest can also set up their own retreat at a place and time of their choosing. For most it may not be so easy to get away for a retreat. But do you have a dedicated place or time for prayer in your day so that prayer actually happens?
Congratulations to our Second graders who have received Jesus for the first time at the 10:30 Mass. Thank you to their parents, teachers and catechists who have helped them along the way this year in their preparation for their first Holy Communion. Keep them in your prayers as this sacrament helps them to grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus.
Pray also for the vocation dinner that we are hosting this coming Saturday. We have invited high school and college young men to take some time to listen to Fr. David Drefcinski and enjoy a meal together while being open to the Holy Spirit. Our Religious Education program encompasses St. Joseph, St. Stephen, St. Casimir and St. Peter parishes. They should have received an invite, perhaps your prayer and encouragement is what they also need. Later in June is a Nun Run for our young ladies of our parishes. Over a few days they have the opportunity to see convents and meet sisters of different religious orders. If we are not praying, doing something or encouraging Religious or Holy Orders for our young people, it is hard to complain that we don’t have them. St. John Vianney, St. Francis pray for our young people.