Fr. Simon's Letter - May 5, 2024 - Queen of All Saints

Back in the day, when I made my first Communion, the date depended on the availability of the bishop. I received my First Communion and Confirmation on October 24. I was hoping to be present for my niece’s First Communion and Confirmation this January when I will visit my family in India. Unfortunately, the date was pushed back to April 28, because the bishop wasn’t available.

Here at QAS, First Communion and Confirmation usually take place in the spring. Have you ever wondered why this is so? Is it because of the better weather, allowing more people to stand outside church and take pictures? Is it because the altar is filled with the fragrance of the blossoms? Is it because we are close to the end of the school year, and these two sacraments come at the culmination of months of preparation in religious education? Or is it even that, finally, there is “room on the schedule” at church, now that Lent and Easter are out of the way?

It’s probably a little of all of these. But may I suggest the possibility that there’s a more relevant reason we see so many First Communion and Confirmation liturgies in April, May and June. Yes, it’s true, we have just come through Lent, Holy Week, and Easter; in fact, we are still in the Easter season. What better time in the liturgical year for young people to receive First Communion than when Holy Thursday is so fresh in our memory? It was on that very special night in Holy Week when we commemorated Christ giving us his body and blood as food for the Church’s journey until the end of time.

And what better time to confer the sacrament of Confirmation? Our young people will receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in the weeks leading up to the great feast that marks the birth of the Church itself: Pentecost. Indeed, along with baptism, we might well think of these sacraments as the “Easter sacraments,” as they are so rooted in the events in the life of Our Lord and the Church that took place in those days after his resurrection.

So, to all those who are receiving and celebrating First Communion or Confirmation at this time, congratulations! You are entering more deeply into what it means to be a Christian, for you are partaking in these life-giving encounters that Christ left for us. If you are able to celebrate these milestones with some sort of party, and if people give you gifts on this occasion, great! These events are indeed causes for joy and celebration. But think of the gifts and parties as symbols of the eternal gifts from almighty God, and the heavenly banquet to which he invites us. Nourished and strengthened by these Easter sacraments, we could not be more gifted as individuals, as families, as a parish, and as a church

On Friday, May 17, we will gather as a community at the Holiday Inn in Skokie for our Gala Night of the United Parish Program. We will celebrate the spirit of community that binds us together and give thanks to God for bringing us together as one family. We will remember and thank the generous benefactors who sustained this great parish in the past, and those who continue to support it both now and into the future. The funds we will raise will support the many ministries and activities of the parish that are essential to our vitality in the present and for generations to come.

The United Parish Program is our one and only fundraiser. The UPP aims to bring together the many and varied organizations in the parish and work as one toward a common goal – to build up the body of Christ and to care for and support the sacramental, educational and ministerial needs of our members. It is therefore of utmost importance that every member of the parish community takes part in this united, and vital, endeavor.

So, I appeal to every family in the parish – and we have 2,900 families – to offer your support and be a part of this year’s UPP. Along with purchasing a ticket and attending the Gala, there are many additional ways to participate. You can be a sponsor, take out an advertisement in the event booklet, offer an item for auction, buy raffle tickets, or help one of the many committees prepare for the event. Our goal is to raise $275,000. That’s a lot of money, but it’s what is needed to support the ongoing ministries and activities of our parish. I know that we can achieve this goal with the participation and support of every single family in the parish. To make it even easier for you to take part, you can donate online!

None of the above would be possible without the leadership and vision of our UPP team. I am deeply grateful to Jill Fowler, Carolyn Turner, Kristin Henry and Katie Mackenzie who are coordinating this year’s UPP, and the many volunteers who are working hard to make this event both memorable and successful. It is through their hard work, and your generosity and support, that we will achieve our goal. I look forward to seeing you on May 17, for our Gala Night that focuses on Building Our Tomorrow!!

Blessings!