Brothers and Sisters,

May is a month of celebration because its 31 days are historically full of events, people, and accomplishments worth commemorating, like the many graduates who will walk their school’s stages for the last time. Or if you’re a public school high school student in Howard County, the Merriwether Post Pavillion’s stage for the first as they all participate in commencement ceremonies this month. (Be sure to look for our parish schools at the beginning of June).

I welcome all Grade 8 and above graduates to receive an official blessing marking their accomplishments offered at the end of each Mass on the weekend of May 20 and 21. 

Additionally, in the Catholic tradition, May celebrates our spiritual mother, Mary. And, we’ll rightfully take time on May 14 to celebrate our earthly mothers on Mother’s Day (though these ladies deserve to be honored every day of the year!). Then in Easter Season, May also hosts First Holy Communion celebrations, most of which are this weekend.

Moreover, OLPH will celebrate several marriage ceremonies this month (and there’s a little break until late fall). On Saturday, May 20, Archbishop Lori will ordain six seminarians as deacons, nine to the priesthood this June, and many men to the diaconate this fall, including OLPH parishioner Mike King! All of these events (and celebrations) encourage us to see the presence of God in our relationships and life journeys!

In our first reading, a fledgling Christian community chose “seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom,” to aid in caring for all members. The seven selected are often viewed as our Church’s first “deacons,” as they tend to the neglected widows and orphans among their Greek-speaking cohort. And yet, what started as a work of charity, leads to the proclamation of faith and how Jesus has changed everything! Some thousands of years later, this Christian community, OLPH, understands that we must take the privilege of selecting Christian men and women to serve in the parish’s ministry seriously. And in doing so, we should affirm the vocations our Lord calls them to while accompanying those who serve and parishioners alike on their faith journeys—always celebrating their uniqueness and differing life experiences that God ordained. As a parish community, let us recommit to centering our lives on the Lord, to grow faith leaders while growing in our faith through worship and adoration of our God, who chooses to be with us each day. What a blessing!