The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
~ As we celebrate the Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ this Sunday, let us renew our love for and participation in the Eucharist! The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our life as Catholics, the very life of our faith together. We are blessed with vibrant liturgy at St. Margaret of Scotland! Visitors regularly comment on our vibrant worship, our strong community, and our excellent music, so thanks to our ministers of the Eucharist who make this happen, and thanks to all who attend week after week, Sunday after Sunday, to give glory to God!
Summertime brings a more relaxed schedule to parish life, but there is always something happening around St. Margaret of Scotland! School is out for the summer, but there are many repairs and capital improvements underway at the school campus, including new flooring and ceiling tiles in Faith Hall and ongoing repair and maintenance on the HVAC units. In addition, Cornerstone Center for Early Leaning is conducting Wunderkind Adventure Camp this summer in and around Purcell Hall, and the Muny has been utilizing our gymnasium as a practice space for the University of Kentucky gymnastics team that is featured in their current production of “Bring It On: the Musical”. Most every time that Axel and I walk to the school, I see parents and children playing on the playground. And our school administration is still hard at work planning for the school year to come. Even when school is not in session, our school campus is buzzing!
Vacation Bible School will return to St. Margaret later this summer. “Who is my Neighbor? Learning to Love like Jesus” will take place July 28 – August 1 on the Church campus. VBS is for rising 1st through 5th graders, and rising 6th graders and older can assist as helpers. Adult volunteers are also welcome! More information and registration is available on our parish website.
As previously announced, Msgr. Mike Turek will be moving to St. Margaret of Scotland in the coming weeks. Msgr. Turek is a retired priest of the Archdiocese who will be in residence at St. Margaret. As a retired priest, he will not have any official duties here, but certainly will preside at Masses and be present for parish activities as he chooses. We have been working in the rectory to prepare his suite of rooms so that he feels welcome and comfortable here. Msgr. Turek was most recently the pastor of Christ the King Parish in University City, though many folks know him from his many years as the pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish here in South City. I know Msgr. Turek to be a fine priest, a great preacher, and a fun friend, and I know that you will grow to know and love him. Welcome, Msgr. Turek!
Finally, aren’t you loving our new Holy Father, Pope Leo? I have loved and respected all the Popes of my lifetime, and I certainly had a special affinity and love for Pope Francis. But Pope Leo seems to be just what the Church and the world needs at this present moment. He is a staunch advocate and promoter of unity in the Church and peace in the world. His experience as a missionary, the head of a religious order, a bishop, and a curia official makes him respected by everyone in the Church, it seems. And since he is from the USA, it’s been so fun to see his brothers, watch him don a White Sox hat, and speak so eloquently and passionately in our native language. Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo, that God will give him strength and fortitude, and good health and safety. And let us continue to pray with Pope Leo. As you may know, each month the Pope offers a prayer intention for the whole Church. This July, our Holy Father’s intention is for formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might learn again how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel. Lord, hear our prayer!