April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Child abuse is not just the concern of those who are abused, or of those who are doing the abusing. It is a community issue that affects us all. The children who are hurt, isolated, and mentally or physically tormented may be our neighbors. Or, they will live in our neighborhoods as adults.

We are already half way through the month. I have not seen news stories or social media posts about child abuse prevention recently. Of course, I may have missed them. Nonetheless, we all will do well to be attentive, raise our own and others’ consciousness, and perhaps, have an age appropriate conversation with a child concerning physical, verbal, or sexual abuse.

On a more positive note regarding our youth, we have a number of children who are completing their preparations for receiving Holy Communion for the first time. We do well to celebrate the initiation of a life-long opportunity to commune with the Lord and each other. The first time is important because it is the first of many. Correct? Do not let it be the “first” of a few communions in the life of that child. We need the next generation of those who will strive to contribute to the communion of our whole faith community and beyond. We need the next generation of those who will seek unity in their lives at home, at work, at leisure, and elsewhere. They need to be inspired by the unity which we celebrate and seek in the Eucharist. God desires that we will be one in heart and mind, united in the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us continue to produce generation after generation of believers who advance the toward that goal of oneness, which is God’s goal for us.

Once again, as I write this article, the news is full of stories of mass shootings and other violence. Last night was the shooting in Indianapolis. Eight persons were killed. This past Sunday was the killing of a man by police during a traffic stop in Minnesota. Our human propensity, or habit, or even desire toward violence as an attempt to express anger or resolve conflict, or…is a failure. For people of faith, violence is the opposite of what Jesus taught us. Period.

Peace, Fr. Andy