I have three kids (ages 7, 6, and 4), and going to Mass on the weekends isn’t always easy.

One of the kids has to go to the bathroom.  A different kid is hungry.  Another kid wants to sing and speak loudly (at least it feels that way to my husband and I) during Father’s homily.  HOWEVER, we all benefit from going.

Last week, and ambulance passed us on the freeway, and my 4 year old said, “Let’s pray for them right now.”  My 6 year old told me, “Father Antonio calls Mary ‘Mama Mary’; we all have two mothers.”  Even though my husband and I might not hear all of the homily each week as we tend to our children, we have an opportunity to take Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist, and we come together with other believers to worship God.

I would like to encourage all St. Joseph’s Catholic School families to participate in two activities centered on the Mass.

The first is an opportunity for parents to be trained to be Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist in order to share Christ’s Body and Blood at our weekly school Masses and monthly parish Masses.  This training will be held at St. John’s Cathedral on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 6-7:30 p.m.  I was trained last spring, and I feel blessed every time I have an opportunity to be an EM.

The second is that I want to encourage all families to attend our monthly parish Masses together.  The first Mass will be on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.  The other dates are: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 8 a.m.; Sunday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m.; Sunday, Jan. 31 at 11:30 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.; Sunday, March 13 at 10 a.m.; Sunday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m.; Saturday, April 30 at 5 p.m. (1st Communion Mass); Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. (in Spanish).  During these Masses, our students read, bring forward the gifts, help usher, and lead singing (most Masses).

I pray that your family will grow in faith as you participate in school activities.