Goodbye April, Hello May! On the first day of May the church celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. In the Philippines, it is Labor Day. In the United States, it is the First Day of American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. On the first Saturday of the month, we will also have our First Saturday devotion with a novena and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The month of May is a month to honor the Blessed Mother Mary. I am glad that we are back to praying the Rosary again before the 8:30AM mass. This week we will bring back also our Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Before Covid Times we used to have this devotion every Tuesday. This time we will have our Perpetual Help novena every Wednesday. I see Wednesday as a better day for this novena since we pray that Glorious Mystery of the Rosary on this day that includes the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (4th Mystery) and, of course, the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (5th mystery). On Tuesdays we pray the Sorrowful mysteries that focus on Jesus' way to Calvary, his passion and death. So starting this Wednesday, May 5, we will be praying the novena to our Mother Perpetual Help after the 8:30AM mass. Join us!

Our 8th graders will be having a day of recollection next Wednesday and they will be attending the 8:30AM mass. At some point of the day, they will also spend some time in Church. Let us pray for the young graduating students!

This Wednesday, May 5, is "Cinco de Mayo," the Spanish for "Fifth of May," observed annually to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The day, which falls on Wednesday, May 5 in 2021, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations

Friday was the last day of April. Saturday starts the month of May. "Where there is an end, there is a new beginning." When there is death, there is new life. Parishioner Catalina Zolotoff passed away last Tuesday at the age of 104 in the arms of her son Mark. For a week, Catalina was singing to the Blessed Mother and she told the family that Mama Mary was going to take her. In the middle of the night, mother and son prayed the Rosary together. After the Rosary, Catalina made the Sign of the Cross and soon after she passed away peacefully. What a blessed life! What a blessed and peaceful death. At the death of a person, we sometimes say, he or she has been taken away from us. Catalina was taken by the Blessed Mother to the arms of our loving Father. Her funeral will be this Monday, May 3, at 11am in our church

Parishioner Bob Rizetto comes to the church regularly during the week and plays the Mandolin before the Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in one of our shrines. That's how he honors our Blessed Mother. Bob is one of the pioneering graduates of St. Robert's School. He also plays other musical instruments like the bass and trumpet. You might catch him as he plays Schubert's or Bach's "Ave Maria" and Connie Francis' "Oh Mama."

As we enter the month to honor Mary, let's give a thought on erecting a Grotto of the Blessed Mother outside the church. I already have a sponsor for the statue. We are now looking for an architect or a designer and, of course, some additional funds for the work. Maybe you can direct us to the right persons or maybe you are one of them. A great way to deeply honor our Blessed Mother!

Fr. Arnold