Photo Caption: Ariana Jacinto of St. Paul’s Parish in Macomb accepts the cup with the Precious Blood from Deacon Gene Triplett during the annual Mass for First Communicants on June 1 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Perhaps the sun was jealous.

There wasn’t much of it to be seen as the girls dressed in their white gowns and veils and the boys wearing suits and ties entered St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria for the annual Mass for First Communicants last Saturday. Their smiles lit up the church so much, however, that by the time they left the sun was shining, too.

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, said their faith had a similar affect on him and the people around them.

“When I look out and see these young people I remember my First Communion. I think how often I’m at the altar but maybe I’m on automatic pilot, not thinking about what I’m doing,” he told them as he stood not at the ambo, but on the steps of the cathedral sanctuary.

“Your witness tells me to be a better bishop. Your witness helps your families remember that they have to be modeled around the love we know in Jesus Christ,” Bishop Jenky said. “Your being faithful to the Eucharist reminds the whole church that everything we do comes from the power of the sacrament that is God’s love and that everything we achieve we bring to the altar as the celebration of all we try to accomplish in the name of Jesus.”

CHALLENGES “OLDER BELIEVERS”
He urged the “older believers” in the pews not to let the challenge presented by this witness pass them by.

“If everyone here had to go for a week or so without any normal food your body would start shutting down. Without nutrition you die and the same thing is true for Catholic believers without the nourishment of the sacrament,” Bishop Jenky explained. “Our souls die. Our relationship with the Lord gets cold. Our ability to love one another and do what God asks us to do gets weak.”

Urging them to come to the “table of the Lord” to be fed every Sunday, no matter what, he emphasized that “the Eucharist is not optional in our lives.”

Bishop Jenky thanked his young listeners for being good Catholic Christians and asked everyone, “starting with me,” to imitate their faith and keep Jesus “as the nourishment of our lives and reverence him truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament.”

Among them were about half of the 54 students from St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish who made their First Communion this spring. Two of them, Alexis Rojo and Estriella Baxin, proclaimed the readings from a small wooden ambo that allowed them to see and be seen by the assembly.

Presenting the gifts of bread and wine were Katie Mesplay of St. Philomena’s Parish in Monticello and her parents Mark and Becky, brother Zach, and sister Madison.

Each of the children had an opportunity to pose for photos with Bishop Jenky after Mass and received medallions blessed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI before his retirement.