In last Sunday’s Gospel from John, we heard the murmuring of the crowds about Jesus’ words about being the bread of Life. This Sunday’s Gospel opens with the disciples themselves murmuring about how hard this is to accept! Some of the early disciples parted company with Jesus and returned to their regular jobs. But Jesus asks them: “Will you leave me too?” Peter speaks up bravely. “Lord, we are not going away! We are staying put. You have the words of everlasting life!” The question for us today would be: “How would you have responded to Jesus in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel? How do you respond now with your knowledge of the Eucharist?

As we have announced, today is Registration Sunday for our Religious Education Program for all grades and for sacramental preparation for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. The primary responsibility forming children in the Faith belongs to parents. At the baptism of your children, the priest reminded you: “It is your responsibility to bring your children up in the practice of the Faith. See that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe and grow always stronger in their hearts.” Along with parental responsibility, our religious education program will strengthen and support parents in their duty as Christian parents. And so, to sign your children up for our parish program is of utmost importance. This way there are three ways to present our Christian Faith: in the home, in our religious education program, and in the family worship on Sunday. Parents should not simply drop children off for class and absent the family from Sunday Mass.

In closing, I wish to thank everyone who worked so hard to make our celebration of The Feast of St. Luis the King so wonderful! In particular, I thank Fr. Oscar, Hanz Jaime and the Comité Hispano for taking the lead at making the celebration stupendous! Bless you, one and all!

Love, Father Vince