“Holy Communion”

May 19, 2009

Year of St. Paul

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you noticed how busy this month of May has been? There are First Communions, Confirmations and graduations scheduled almost daily throughout the Archdiocese.

This year I celebrate the fifty-first anniversary of my first Holy Communion and the fiftieth anniversary of my Confirmation. It seems like just yesterday. I’ll bet it’s like that for so many of you.

One priest recently told me that at a first Holy Communion Mass at his parish, he asked all the adults present to raise their hands if they could remember the date of their first Holy Communion. Most of the hands went up!  It’s an important date in our lives.

Every time we receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion it is a major event—something we should never forget.  

Jesus reminds us to celebrate the Eucharist in “memory” of Him. Our communion with Jesus is the living memory of the Church, and in it Jesus is present and alive, just as He is present and alive at the right hand of the Father in heaven. This is something important to remember each day—Jesus is with us.

There is one other piece of good news to share. On Saturday, the Archdiocese will ordain six new priests! Fathers Mark, Aaron, Daniel, Angel, Sean, and Luke will be ordained at the Cathedral.  Please keep these fine young men in your prayers and please remember to pray for all of our priests.

While we sometimes hear so much disappointing news, it is good to concentrate our attention on some of the good things that bring us joy.

Jesus is with us and His Spirit still leads the Church! Thanks be to God!

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend William Patrick Callahan

Archdiocesan Administrator
Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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