Pray. Sing. Reflect. Be grateful...

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, there is a topic I've been thinking for some time and today I want to comment briefly on our Pastor's Bench. Have you ever felt the need to leave Mass early for whatever reason? Maybe you are running late for a brunch with friends or you have a ballgame to attend. Have you ever thought that if the situation were different, you might not be so inclined to step out before the final blessing? What if it was dinner at your CEO’s house or you were on a date with somebody you cared for very deeply? Would you walk out early on those people? Leaving before the final blessing or last hymn is largely a Catholic phenomenon. This early exodus is rarely seen in Protestant services or even those in Mormon Tabernacles and Jehovah’s Witness halls. Is our behavior indicative of faithful Catholics or of those of us who simply feel that there are more important things we can be doing with our time? God must be first in our lives –everything else is secondary! Why many of our parishioners left the church long before the priest, with the other ministers, leaves the sanctuary and walk to the sacristy? I think we should give more importance to the celebration of the Eucharist. The entire celebration of the Mass is important, from the introductory rites to the recessional procession. In the same way that we do not leave a dinner or any meal without saying thanks and goodbye, in that same way is good to remain a few minutes at the end of the Eucharist giving thanks to the Lord. It is also a sign of good manners and courtesy to the ministers who help us with the music ministry; it's a shame that sometimes only the music director and choir are signing the recessional hymn! My brother, my sister, perhaps its time now to break old habits and stay until mass is over, just decide to do it. Stay to the end and say thank you. Pray. Sing. Reflect. Be grateful for the opportunity to spend such a precious time in God's presence in His house, after just having received the Body and Blood of His Son! Is there anywhere else or anything else that can compare? What could possibly be more important? If you don't make a change in your life now and train yourself to stay for the entirety of mass, then when will you? Take good care now about your spiritual well being. The Spirit of God dwells within you! ■ Fr. Agustin, pastor.