Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.
It is the time for people to thank mothers and mother figures who took the time care for them and help them through life’s challenges and to express gratitude towards mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. Mother figures may include step-mothers, mother’s-in-law, guardians (e.g. foster parents) and family friends.
The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Graton, West Virginia.
Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War and created Mother’s day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”.
Carnations are a popular Mother’s Day symbol. Some people give cards, flowers, or chocolates, and/or make handmade items or special meals on Mother’s Day. Others take their mothers or mother figures to the movies, a restaurant, café, or a day in a park.
Wishing you all a happy mother’s day!
May the lord bless you for your tender hearted love you have for your children. May this day bring you much love and joy.
During this month of Mary
May 12, 2019 will be the 56th Annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations
The first World Day of Prayer for Vocationswas instituted by Pope Paul VIin 1963 during the Second Vatican Council. Parishes are especially encouraged to include prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Mothers take care of the family at home, but our priests take care of our church family. We take them for granted a lot. We should remember to pray for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life today too. The world would not continue to exist without mothers, but the sacraments of the church will not continue to exist without our precious priests either.
Pope Francis’ message “The Church, Mother of Vocations” should be read and taken to heart. Excerpts follow:
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 2019 WORLD DAY OF VOCATIONS
The courage to take a risk for God’s promise
I would like to reflect, on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, on how the Lord’s call makes us bearers of a promiseand, at the same time, asks of us the courage to take a risk, with him and for him.
The Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a “cage” or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking. He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch.
Dear friends, it is not always easy to discern our vocation and to steer our life in the right direction. For this reason, there needs to be a renewed commitment on the part of the whole Church – priests, religious, pastoral workers and educators – to provide young people in particular with opportunities for listening and discernment. There is a need for a youth ministry and a vocational promotion that can open the way to discovering God’s plan, above all through prayer, meditation on God’s word, Eucharistic adoration and spiritual accompaniment.
We should always look to Mary. In the story of this young woman, vocation was both a promise and a risk. Her mission was not easy, yet she did not allow fear to prevail. “It was the ‘yes’ of someone prepared to be committed, someone willing to take a risk, ready to stake everything she had, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of a promise.
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, let us join in prayer and ask the Lord to help us discover his plan of love for our lives, and to grant us the courage to walk in the path that, from the beginning, he has chosen for each of us.
Submitted by S. Janice Fournier, p.m.