As I watched the children come to The Table for the first time I thought of how they have grown and matured since the beginning of the school year. As the year progressed, it was wonderful to witness their joy as their anticipation and excitement flourished as the day got closer and closer.
For the first time, we started our preparation year with a Mass of Welcoming for the children and their families. The children wrote their first names on scrolls and came up onto the Sanctuary steps, along with their parents, for a special blessing by our pastor. It was beautiful to watch the proud parents wrapping their arms around their smiling children, holding them closely as they were blessed.
After the blessing, each child, with their parent’s guidance, handed their scroll to a parishioner, who they did not know, and personally asked the parishioner to pray for them throughout the year. As the children approached the parishioners, there were nothing but smiles and open hearts to say yes and take their scrolls from them. They were eager to pray for the boys and girls and appreciative that the children chose them.
Michele Salvino, coordinator of religious education, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade