So much is happening or on tap this week, it’s hard to know where to begin…

The Papal Conclave. You can’t turn on any news source these days without seeing headlined articles describing all the ins and outs of the Papal Conclave that began this week on Wednesday, May 7th. For all we know, by the time this reflection is printed, a new Pope will already be elected…. Or maybe not. Either way this is a good time to say a prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide the Cardinals, the Pope-to-be and the Church in general. That’s true every Sunday when our General Intercessions at Mass always include a prayer for the Church or her leaders, but this Sunday that prayer for the Church is especially timely.

Mother’s Day. We have to wish all the mothers, grandmothers and spiritual mothers in our parish a very Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for all your love, sacrifices and self-giving acts that too often go unnoticed.  It is said that motherhood is the most underappreciated vocation in the world. We love our Moms and we owe them the world, but it is easy to take them for granted because they are always there for us, quietly toiling “under the radar.” With that in mind, let’s be sure to show our appreciation for our mothers today, and say thanks for all they do. Love you, Mom! 

World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is entirely appropriate that Mother’s Day overlaps this year with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope St. Pius X once remarked that “every vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life comes from the heart of God, but it passes through the heart of a mother.” Mothers in particular have an inestimable influence on the vocations chosen by their children.  While appreciating all vocations, the Church today calls our attention to pray for vocations to ordained life (priests and deacons) and to consecrated life in all its forms. This follows the Lord’s command to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.”  (Lk. 10:2) This year the World Day of Prayer for Vocations also happens to fall on the 4th Sunday of Easter – called Good Shepherd Sunday – which adds to the motive to pray for young men in particular to become shepherds in the Church, following Jesus, the ultimate Good Shepherd. In our parish context, let’s pray in particular for Deacon Michael Scanga who will be ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Erie on May 23rd, and Seminarian Matthew Selzer who will be ordained as a transitional deacon on June 7th at St. Aidan Parish/St. Alexis Church in Wexford. May the Good Shepherd bless and inspire them both.

So much happening, and so much to pray for! The month of May is traditionally observed as the month of Mary. Perhaps each of us could take a quiet moment today and pray a Hail Mary for the Church and all this is happening in Rome; another Hail Mary for Vocations, and a third one for our mothers – living and deceased.  If your Mom is like mine, that would be the most welcome Mother’s Day gift of all. May the Blessed Mother watch over and protect all our Moms.

Deacon Bill