Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Celebration of the Ascension

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Jesus came into the world so that the fractured human community might be drawn back into the unity of God. This unity flows from God, it says in the scriptures readings this Sunday: “Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may be one…..” This unity flows from the love of God  and Jesus was sent here to the world to revel this glory of God. Now it is our time to live in unity and share the glory of God in our lives and in the people that we meet.

Next Sunday on Pentecost Sunday, Bishop George Sheltz will invoke the Holy Spirit for Confirmation upon 10 of our adults. The common theme in the Adult Confirmation program is “the gifts of the Holy Spirit” as expressed in the Confirmation Prayer, that the candidates should see, know, understand, trust and experience the Holy Spirit in their own lives. The Rite of Confirmation will take place at St. Helens parish in Pearland. Please pray for our adult Confirmation candidates, their sponsors and families.

Our Parish Spring Festival is just a few short weeks away. This will be our fourth festival for our parish in close to 20 years. The Springs Festival theme this year is ‘Hollywood.’ Raffle ticket packets are available and tickets are on sale this weekend. I highly encourage you to make your commitment to helping our parish at the Bazaar. May 22nd is the big day for everyone. If you have not picked up your 2016 Festival raffle tickets, they are available during select times outside the Church Narthex or pick them up from our parish office. Thank you for your help with selling tickets for the great prizes we have for the festival. One of the gift cards would look wonderful in my wallet.  Please make plans to get involved now and come join us for what is shaping up as great festival for our parish family.

On Tuesday June 7th at 7:00 pm we will have our Mass of Confirmation with Bishop George Sheltz. St. Hyacinth has 60 young people being confirmed this year. We congratulate all of our teens, their sponsors and families and pray that the Holy Spirit will always guide them.

Please pray for Deacon Frank Berntsen, and his wife JoAnn and family. Deacon Frank has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Deacon Frank has been a valuable member of our ministry team for the past three and half years and now is the time to show our love and support for him during this trail.

Over the next few months, Deacon Frank will undergo chemo and radiation treatments and I am asking for the help and everyone at STHY. I am asking everyone if possible to provide your services during the next few months to transport Deacon to and from his treatments and or provide meals for his family during this time. To sign up for help go to the following website: http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/234366

Enter the following information in the appropriate spaces:

Calendar ID   :   234366 (if it's not already prefilled)

Security code:   4183

If you are unable to provide any of these services to Deacon Frank, we are accepting donations and gift cards for gas and food. Thank you for your support.

I want to say congratulations to all of our young people who have received their First Eucharist this past Saturday in the first of two First Eucharist Masses here at STHY. The next First Communion Mass will be next Saturday May 14^th.  I want to thank Ms. Barbara Mackie our Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization, Mrs. Pamela Johnson, Associate Director, along with our team of Catechist for their work of religious formation in First Eucharist preparations.

Summer is almost here and that means Vacation Bible School. Registration has begun for this yearly event which will be held July 11^th 15^th in Guyot Hall. This year’s theme will be “Cave Quest. VBS, kids experience God’s Word in surprising and unforgettable ways. This VBS event is a wonderful time for our young people to explore their relationship with Christ and the Church. Last year VBS had over 140 kids participating along with over 50 teen and adult volunteers helping our young people grow in their relationship with Christ and the Church.  If you have time to volunteer this summer, the Vacation Bible School would be a great place for you to help. Please continue to pray for the young people of our parish.

Finally, on behalf of all of us here at St. Hyacinth, we want to wish all the mothers of our parish a happy Mother’s Day. This includes all those women who have been spiritual mothers to us all as well.

God Bless,

Fr. Reginald Samuels