Please continue to pray for the children at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, especially those who lost their lives and those who were injured as a result of the shooting. May God give them the strength and comfort they need in these troubling times.
These school shootings are extremely difficult for everyone. This is the first time one has taken place in a Catholic School. As it always seems to be the case, these are perpetrated by someone who suffers from some form of mental illness. So, we must follow Jesus in what He taught us, to pray for our enemies and those who do evil. All of us are in need of prayers, especially those who suffer so much. Our principal and staff, at Sacred Heart School, are always doing all in their power to keep all of our children safe. We are always working in conjunction with the Wadsworth schools and the Wadsworth Police Department. Please keep in mind that no system is perfect, but we will always do what we can by God’s grace.
Today, in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will canonize two young men, Peir Georgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. These young men lived a hundred years apart from each other with Pier Georgio dying in 1924 at age 25 and Carlo dying in 2006 at age 15. Both came from families that were less than enthusiastic about the practice of the Faith, but their parents were brought back to the Church through the prayers and examples of their sons.
Pier Georgio and Carlo were just very ordinary young men doing what the young men of their times did. Pier Georgio loved to climb mountains and go camping. He loved to be with his friends. He was not the best of students, but he worked very hard. Carlo played soccer and was very much into computer science. On his own he studied and was able to master computer programing. He developed a website that contains all the details of each Miracle of the Eucharist in the history of the Church.
Carlo and Pier Giorgio show young people that not only is holiness possible, but it is found in the ordinary components of our lives. It’s in the hiking and the computer coding and the hanging out with friends and in the finding chances to be generous that we can follow and love Jesus.
Pier Georgio and Carlo both had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and received Holy Eucharist every day after receiving their First Holy Communion. These young men also had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother and were committed to serving the poor. Their care for the poor was not well known until after their deaths when many of the poor came to the funerals.
This joint canonization was not in the plans. It was only at the death of Pope Francis that Carlo’s canonization had to be postponed that it was decided to hold the canonizations together. It is truly very fitting that these two young men should be canonized together considering how very similar was their love for God and His Church. They both had very short lives, but lives that were animated by a great love for Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary as well as a great desire to follow Jesus in all that they did in the short time that God gave them. It speaks so eloquently and loudly about the graced filled lives they led.
Let us pray that their intercession for our young people will grow in a greater and stronger love for Jesus and Mary. St. Pier Georgio and St. Carlo, pray for us.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 20, after the 5 PM Mass the PREDICTABLES (Joe McNeill, Chris Serger, and Josh Watson) will again Rock the Rectory. They will play from the rectory porch as we gather in the parking lot. So, make your plans. It’s always a good time for all.
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults: Do you know anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Catholic and possibly be received into the Church or baptized at the next Easter Vigil? If so, please encourage them and pray for them. Let them know to call the parish office since the classes will begin on Wednesday, September 17, at 7 PM.
