April 28th, 2001 ... Our Youngest Partake

The First Communion Service was absolutely beautiful. The children were dressed in a variety of nice clothes. Julie Madden read "Children of the World" by Pablo Casals; a beautiful reading about how marvelous children are. Please read it below and look at the pictures of your children, our children at First Communion. The musicians followed this reading with a wonderful song reinforcing the theme. There were about 110 children who made their first Holy Communion. One of them read the second reading out of Corinthians. The children had preciously honest answers to the questions of Fr. George Wertin about communion. Several of the children brought up the gifts to the altar. At the end, the sweet voices of the children rang out with three songs that brought tears to many eyes.

Children, may you be blessed as you choose now to walk with Jesus.

Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again . . .And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work - we must all work - to make the world worthy of its children. . . . . -Pablo Casals

The Marvels

Becka has about 30 pictures from the 1st Communion Service. That she would be willing to share with other parents. If you are interested in exploring that possibility, fill out the form below and she will contact you.

Just complete this form. Click on Submit when ready to send. Your name: Email address: Who is the child you wish a picture of?:

Becka Watry stumbled across SJA in late 1996 4 blocks from her new home. Becka says, "I had been displeased with our church experience, stuck around awhile in hope to be part of change, and then left it for the Methodist faith vowing to return when my kids drew near the teen years. With SJA so close, we gave it a try, and found Saturday evening Mass to be everything we had hoped for! It was so family friendly. In the fall of 1998 we were ready to join the church, and I became a Sunday School Teacher. We found Sunday Mass to be even more dynamic. I continue to teach Sunday School, and help out with Camp StJoans, 1st Communion, and Family Camp. Thanks SJA!"