Blog Post 5/12/2022

First Holy Communion Celebration was a Singular Privilege

 

Berkleigh McDevitt Kelly, Dad [Brian], Mom [Laurie], and Caiden [her brother]

 

 

 

Berkleigh with Grammy Kelly and Pop Pop Kelly [a.k.a. Deacon George] above.

At the Consecration Jesus is made present, and heaven meets earth, once again.  When we receive the Eucharist, God blesses us with knowing and loving His Real Presence.  Last Saturday I had a singular privilege of giving my granddaughter Berkleigh her first Holy Communion, the Bread of Life.  I was filled with emotions of gratitude, thanksgiving and love of God and love of my family as I offered Berkleigh her 1^st Holy Communion.

Assisting at the First Holy Communion Mass was profound blessing.  Fr. Neil Dhabliwaka, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Kennesaw, GA, was a gracious host and offered the homily on St. John’s Gospel.

My wife Joanne, Berkleigh’s grandmother and Godmother affectionately known as Grammy in the South was there for the great celebration, she is pictured above with Berkleigh and me.  God’s blessings are many, this was a memorable one.

I want to share a short Reflection on the Eucharist

St. Bernardine of Siena offered this powerful reflection on the gift of the Eucharist "The last degree of love is when He gave Himself to us to be our Food; because He gave Himself to be united with us in every way.

Remember Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, “Holy Communion is Jesus’ way of saying as Christopher Robin once said to Pooh, ‘Forever isn’t long at all when I’m with you.’’ [America, “The Gospel according to Winnie the Pooh”, Terrance Klein, 4/24/19]

Jesus is with us in the Eucharist and in His Word, maybe forever isn’t that long after all.  Today take some time to reflect on the Eucharist: Jesus instituted the Eucharist at His Last Supper, He purified it with His Crucifixion, He Perfected it with His Resurrection, and He Completed it with His Ascension and now He offers it to us.

May God Be Praised!