For your knowledge and information, there is a special sink in the sacristy. The right side is a regular sink but the left side is called a "Sacrarium." This sink is designed with a drainpipe that goes directly into the open ground. It is used ONLY for the purification of ciboria and chalices. We have a special procedure for the proper preparation and care of such Hosts.

I ask everyone to be vigilant as to how people treat the Eucharist. Watch for people who have not consumed the Sacred Host. Be aware of individuals who break the host to share with a young child, a spouse, or friends when they return from receiving Holy Communion. Let them know clearly that this is forbidden, and then inform me or one of the priests. The Ushers are instructed to stand at the side aisles to watch for these situations, but this can still escape their view. It is better to apologize for having misread a situation then to allow abuses to the Eucharist and the handling of the Eucharist to continue.

As we move closer to the next stage of restoring the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle to the top step and center of our Sanctuary, it is important for everyone to realize that we need to be more keenly aware of our actions, attitudes and awareness toward the Blessed Sacrament. The deterioration of total respect for the sacredness of the church building and its interior home brings us to such abuses, and calls us to great and "immediate" change. As pastor, I am not afraid that I might hurt someone’s feelings or perhaps they will leave the church. As pastor, I am the shepherd who sometimes has to put the sheep back in their places so they will not continue to wander off or create a state of chaos in the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of the Most High God.

My friends, we come here to pray and to give thanks to God in the Eucharistic Celebrations and the celebrations of the Sacraments. Parents must teach their children by word and example to respect the House of the Lord. Silence and an atmosphere of prayerfulness are what I expect from every person who comes to worship at OLPH. Parental correction or even "Fraternal correction" must be done with respect and "charitable firmness." Be aware of people’s lack of knowledge and understanding and teach the way of spiritual awareness and growth.

I offer you one group whom I warn all of you to be sensitive to and they are our children 3 years of age and under. We must be tolerant of their sudden awareness of the ability to talk, make sounds and to at times cause a toddler scene (or do I mean scream?). Parents be patient yet firm, and if a child becomes unruly, go for a walk, stand in the church lobby and do the best you can.

+ + + And so, today is Pentecost. Today we must realize that the sequence of events that we just heard of in the Scriptures are just as real a part of our lives today as they where two thousand years ago. Today the Holy Spirit we have received and has been received by 5 young adults at our 11:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. Sunday Masses is one and the same with the Holy Spirit breathe on the Apostles by Christ after the Resurrection, rushing upon the Apostles in the Upper Room while "they were locked in for fear of the Jews" and expressed in the multitude of gift given to the early community. My people, you have that Holy Spirit, one and the same. Today is the birthday of the Church as the Apostles went outside and proclaimed the Good News to those people gathered from nations and languages in the then known world.

I pray that you will join me in my efforts together with all the priest and lay leadership to be the spark of faith that lights the flame of Life in Christ. "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth." Let me tell you this, the sparks are flying, challenges are being accepted by our Parish Council and our School Board to move our parish into a new awareness of who we are and the great Hope we have in Christ. The Holy Spirit is knocking at your door today. Open your heart and answer His call as He has revealed it in our call for a deep respect for Christ in the Eucharist and in our beautiful House of Worship and Prayer.

Finally, but not least, it is Mothers’ Day. To all MOTHERS AND MOTHERS-TO-BE, you are the best. May God +bless you for the life-giving gift of conception and birth that is so special to you, and which you have allowed to be used by God to bring children into the world. You bring love, in flesh and blood, into the world. May you have a wonderful day.