Our Children’s Liturgy of the Word program has been such a huge blessing for our parish. Many thanks to Bridget Bernstetter and all the wonderful volunteers who work with her! We’ve hosted 405 children since October, with many beloved and familiar faces, and often new children, too. We are giving our volunteers a break during the summer:

• No Children’s Liturgy of the Word at either Mass this weekend or next
• Starting June 9, we will begin our summer schedule, offering Children’s Liturgy every other Sunday at 10 a.m. Mass only
• Regular schedule resumes Aug. 25 — every Sunday at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Masses

We’d love to grow this program because its volunteers do so much good for our children, families, and guests. So if you're interested in helping in the fall, contact Debbie Gartner, talk to Bridget Bernstetter, or sign up at any time at www.sspstl.org/childrens-liturgy-of-the-word.

Our Parish Picnic is right around the corner; check out our website for details!

Right after the picnic come two more events that I hope will be really great. On June 7, 2024, at 6 p.m., we’ll welcome Building Catholic Futures to the SSP Parish Hall for a panel presentation entitled “Finding the ‘Yes’es of Scripture.” Our panelists — see the item on the next page for details — will speak about two thought-provoking questions. How can gay Catholics experience Scripture as a source of encouragement and hope? How can LGBT+ and same-sex attracted people’s perspectives help the whole Church rediscover the Bible as a love story and a book of wonders? We’ll conclude with pizza and salad and time for conversation. I’m excited to hear what the panelists have to share with us, and everyone is welcome, both parishioners and guests.

I also encourage you to check out two other presentations Building Catholic Futures has coming up: “What Does Gay Discipleship Look Like?” at St. Francis Xavier College Church on Saturday June 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., and a two-day “Building Catholic Journeys Workshop” at the Aquinas Institute of Theology Monday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Then, on June 8, 2024, comes our top-secret Immaculate Heart of Mary Feast Day Celebration. As far as I know, no one at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in New Melle (the only other Immaculate Heart in our Archdiocese!) knows we’re coming. We’ll surprise them with a big crowd at their 8 a.m. Mass and then eat breakfast at the New Melle Baking Company, supplemented by cuisine from the Bavarian Smoke Haus.  Feel free to meet us there or, even better, join in the big fun carpool departing from the IHM (St. Louis) parking lot at 6:45 a.m. 

Please pray for our parish! God bless you!