Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday!

Flowers outside Lanherne.

Daisey's outside Lanherne.

Bodmin Moore. We hiked to the top, as you can see...

Highest place in Cornwall.

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! I was praying for you all in Mass this morning. Here it was a very blessed day and week. At today's Mass in Plymouth I had two particular joys: offering First Holy Communion to a boy and blessing a couple's renewal of their wedding vows.

The renewal of wedding vows took place right before the Mass. the couple has three young boys, two of whom should begin serving at the altar soon! Since the wife is from Mexico, we had the renewal in the traditional form, with the couple kneeling, but also incorporating some of the Mexican customs, such as the husband giving his wife "arras" and the placing of the lazo over them both. For those not familiar, the "arras" are symbolic gold coins that a husband gives to his wife to symbolize the care he will provide for her, etc. The lazo is actually a large rosary, but made in such a way that is has two large loops--one for each spouse. After blessing the lazo the priest places it over both of them so that they are both "caught" by the large rosary and held together by it. It is a nice symbol of the place the rosary should have in a couple's life: uniting them both to Jesus through Mary and thus uniting them to each other. In this case it was a particular joy to perform this ceremony as the couple is one that prays faithfully the rosary with their children ever day. And, as an extra blessing, the couple gave me two beautiful images of Our Lady of Guadalupe! I have certainly missed her here and am delighted to now have two good images to put in my room.

Then the Mass itself was the First Communion Mass. The 8-year-old boy had been well prepared and seemed to take quite seriously his preparation and the ceremony itself. Though quite nervous he seemed very intent indeed as he came forward for Holy Communion, knelt on the special kneeler prepared for him, and closed his eyes in order to receive His God for the first time within Him in this blessed moment. After Mass I returned to kneel in the sanctuary and invited him to kneel next to me, surrounded by the acolytes, to kneel in silence and thank the Lord for the wonderful gift of Holy Communion. Now begins his journey to become a saint... may he become one!

The last two photos above are from our Easter Friday outing, with the current altar boys of Lanherne, to reward them for all their hard work this past semester. We spent the afternoon hiking "Bodim Moore"--a sort of national park in the area. We hiked up to the highest place in Cornwall, as seen in the photo above. It was a very nice outing. Then that evening they took me to "Piero's"--an Italian pizza place. It was fun--and did indeed have real Italians working there! I was able to speak some Italian with them. I managed to eat an "inferno"--the pizza with chili's on it, to sample some Italian gelato, and to simply have a fun time with them.

Though we got back late and I felt a bit under the weather this weekend it was a nice way to celebrate with them.

And now, this Thursday, I fly back to North America for two months of studies... So next Sunday's post will come from your side of the Atlantic (at least for most of you).

Until then, may Jesus and Mary watch over you all and grant you continued Easter peace and joy.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Tony Pillari