On Saturday, April 20, Bishop John Bonnici confirmed 59 of our eighth-grade students. The young people had prepared for two years, and they are now fully initiated members of our Roman Catholic Faith. I am personally grateful to Deacon Frank Orlando and his staff and to Mrs. Michelle LaMassa and her staff for preparing the young people so well. I ask you to pray for them because now the work is theirs – to use the Gifts and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit for the rest of their lives.

Each of us who have been confirmed is renewed when we realize the four effects of the sacrament. It is worth taking note and meditating on each:

1. the special strength of the Holy Spirit;

2. by a special character, we are intimately bound to the Catholic Church;

3. we are strictly obliged to spread and defend our faith in Jesus Christ; and

4. we are incorporated fully into the Body of Christ by participating in the Mass every Sunday and Holyday.

It happens every Sunday. Parishioners scurry into their pews moments before Mass begins. A few sneak in during the opening song or even the first reading. After Communion, several members of the congregation slip out the door to hurry off to their next activity. Many others bolt to their cars after the final blessing.

Catholics who neglect to arrive early for Mass and hesitate to stay late are missing out on critical moments they could be using to cultivate their spiritual lives and grow in their relationship with God. Taking a few minutes for silent prayer before and after Mass can help Mass-goers focus their attention, prepare their hearts for worship, express their gratitude, and carry their experience of God back into their daily lives.

Begin by simply greeting God and reciting a few familiar prayers — perhaps the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be — to direct the mind toward the divine. Set before the Lord anything that is troubling or burdensome and surrender it to His all-powerful care. Examine your conscience and repent of any sins that might be weighing heavily upon it. Pray for family and friends and place them in His loving protection. Let go of anything that might distract the mind from offering God full attention.

Most importantly, ask God for help. Ask Him for the attention and devotion necessary to pray and worship well during Mass. Ask Him for the grace to receive Him worthily in holy Communion. He will always respond graciously and powerfully to an open, longing, loving heart.

When the priest or deacon says, “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” do not take that as a cue to dash out the church door as quickly as possible. Instead, when the closing hymn ends, remain in the pew for a few minutes to bask in the intimate presence of the Eucharistic Jesus and to thank God for the great gifts He has just provided in the Mass.

Express heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to worship with the saints and angels; to hear God’s Word solemnly proclaimed; to witness the sacred moment of consecration when Jesus becomes truly present on the altar under the appearance of bread and wine; and to receive the Lord of heaven and earth in holy Communion.

Do not rush through these moments of thanksgiving. God has given His very Self to His people in this Mass; the least His people can do in return is give Him thanks.

Pope St. Paul VI once called the Mass “the most perfect form of prayer.” Indeed, during holy Mass, God deepens and broadens His intimacy with His people as He speaks His Word to their hearts and nourishes their souls with the Eucharist. By spending time with God in prayer during those critical moments before and after Mass, Catholics will better appreciate the great gift of this most perfect prayer and, more importantly, grow ever closer to the Giver.

Of all the activities that we are involved in here at the parish, and there are many, nothing is tantamount to the liturgical and spiritual life of the parish. At Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady Parish, we are all grateful for the consistency with which you participate in the liturgy and for your prayerfulness.

Here, we are continually working to make our liturgies both beautiful and prayerful experiences. Reverence for God often begins with things that are quite practical and simple. So, of all the items that I could speak about when it comes to reverence, I want to talk about arriving early for Mass and staying for a prayer after Mass.

The Church wants us to be on time for Mass so we can fully and actively participate in the entire liturgy. But I believe we should come early to Mass, not just on time. This allows us to spend a few minutes reflecting and preparing for Mass in a more relaxed and prayerful manner. Our need to move into a pew when Mass has already begun disrupts others. Such activity is also distracting to the celebrant.

Connected to this, when we rush in to get a seat, we often can neglect to greet our God properly. We, for example, would never enter someone’s home without greeting our host and, in turn, receiving their welcome. Similarly, we should approach the Lord as we enter with a simple genuflection or bow, acknowledging His presence in the tabernacle.

Pope Francis addressed the issue of punctuality at Mass. He said: “It is not a good habit to be looking at the clock” and calculating how much of the beginning of the Mass would be OK to miss and still fulfill one’s obligation. Get to Mass early - not late - he said, because it is during the introductory rites that “we begin to adore God in community” and “to prepare the heart for this celebration with the community.”

Taking a few minutes for silent prayer before and after Mass can help you focus your attention, prepare your hearts for worship, express your gratitude, and carry the experience of God back into your daily lives.

After the Mass has ended, many people enjoy an age-old practice of praying in church after Mass. These are traditionally known as prayers of thanksgiving and focus on thanking God for the great gift that we have received in the Eucharist and in the mystery of our redemption.