Sunday June 3^rd - Pentecost (May the Holy Spirit set our hearts on fire to spread God’s love to all.)

Sunday June 10^th - The Most Holy Trinity (May our family be as united and loving as the Most Holy Trinity.)

Sunday June 17^th - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (May we appreciate more the gift of the Eucharist, the ultimate nourishment for our soul.)

- Father’s Day (May God bless all the fathers in the world.)

Thursday June 21^th - St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Jesuit priest, patron of Catholic youth (May we learn from St. Gonzaga to love God through the example of innocence and charity.)

Sunday June 24^th - Birth of St. John the Baptist (May we learn to be courageous and faithful in proclaiming Jesus to the world.)

Wednesday June 27^th - Our Mother of Pertpetual Help (May we be reminded of our Mother Mary’s constant care for all of us.)

With this in mind, hopefully when we go to Mass, we’ll remember to reflect on the true meaning of each feast day and be able to fully participate with the whole parish in worshipping God.

This month, I’ve included an article about Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli,

a Redemptorist priest, and a poem written by a youth for your reading enjoyment. I hope you like them. Have a great month everyone! Until we meet again in July, remain in Christ’s peace!

Tess Nguyen

* smile, The Father loves you!

Each year on June 30 the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers celebrate the feast of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli.

Gennaro Maria Sarnelli, the son of the baron of Ciorani, was born in Naples (Italy) on September 12, 1702. At the age of 14, he decided to become a Jesuit. Having been dissuaded by his father because of his youth he began to study of jurisprudence and was conferred with a doctorate in ecclesiastical and civil law in 1722. He distinguished himself at the Bar and was enrolled in the Congregation of the Knights of the Legal and Medical professions directed by the Pious Workers at St. Nicholas of Toledo. Among the rules of this Association there was the obligation of visiting the sick in the Hospital of the Incurables. It was here he heard the call of the Lord to become a priest.

In September 1728 he became a seminarian. On June 4, 1729, in order to study in more peaceful conditions, he became a boarder in the College of the Holy Family known as the Chinese College, founded by Matthew Ripa. On April 8 of the following year he left the Chinese College and on June 5 began his novitiate in the Congregation of the Apostolic Missions.

On May 28, 1731 he concluded his novitiate and on July 8 of the following year he was ordained a priest.

During these years, in addition to his visits to the hospital, he devoted himself to catechising and helping young children forced into child labor. He also visited the old people in the Hospice of St. Gennaro and those condemned to the galleys who were ill in the hospital at the docks. These were also the years when he developed a friendship with St. Alphonsus de Liguori and his apostolate. Together they devoted themselves to teaching the catechism to lay people by organizing the Evening Chapels.

Following his ordination Sarnelli was assigned as Director of Religious Instruction in the parish of Sts. Francis and Matthew in the Spanish quarter. Having become aware of the rampant corruption of young girls he decided to direct all his energy against prostitution. In the same period (1733) he tenaciously defended St. Alphonsus against unjust criticism after he had founded the missionary Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) in Scala (Salerno) on November 9, 1732. In June of the same year, having gone to Scala to help his friend during the mission at Ravello, he decided to become a Redemptorist, while at the same time continuing to be a member of the Apostolic Missions.

From his entrance into the Congregation in April 1736 Sarnelli committed himself, unsparingly, to parish missions and to writing in defense of "young girls in danger". He also wrote on the spiritual life and worked so hard that he was almost at death’s door. With the consent of St. Alphonsus he returned to Naples for treatment and there renewed his apostolate for the rescue of prostitutes.

As well as taking part in the Redemptorist apostolate and that of the Apostolic Missions, he promoted meditation in common among the laity by publishing "The Sanctified World". He also campaigned against blasphemy in another book. In 1741 he planned and took part with St. Alphonsus as director of the mission. Despite the permanently insecure state of his health he continued to preach until the end of April 1744, when, by now extremely ill, he returned to Naples where he died on June 30 at the age of 42. His body lies at rest in Ciorani, the first Redemptorist church.

Gennaro Maria Sarnelli has left us 30 works which treat of meditation, mystical theology, spiritual direction, law, pedagogy, moral and pastoral themes. By his social action in favor of women he was ahead of time. He is considered one of the authors who treated this subject most fully in the Europe of the first half of the eighteenth century.

On May 12, 1996, Pope John Paul II beatified him in St. Peter’s Square (Rome).

Kim Van

One night just before I went to sleep,
I laid down in my bed
With many things in my mind,
All running through my head.
I laid down and prayed to God.
I thanked him for the day.
I said hi and "wass up,"
And told him for help
And what I should do.
I asked for a sign
About which I should choose.

I asked, "Where were you,
When I was so scared?
Where were you,
When I had a nightmare?
Where were you,
When I was in a tragedy?
Where were you,
When I was not free?"
I thought again and wondered why,
When my heart was torn
I was alone.
He came to me in a dream
And asked what was wrong.
I asked him with sad eyes,
"Where have you gone?
My heart is hurting,
My day is gray?"
And he said, "Dear Child,
I am with you everyday.
When you were scared,
My love held you close
So you would not be bare.
When you had a nightmare,
I sent your mother
With love and care.
When you were in a tragedy,
I sent a friend
To help you be at peace.
When you were not free,
I sent you my heart
To let you know that you are not alone,
That you will always be complete,
That I am always here for you,
And together in heaven
Is where we shall meet."

Travelers in the United States can find the times of weekend Masses at their destination by dialing the toll-free number 800-627-7846 or visiting www.masstimes.org.