Dear Parishioner:

Welcome to St Leo's! Ours is a great Christian community, and we are so pleased that you have chosen to join us. Our hope is that you will experience the Lord's presence every time you gather with us to worship and pray, to grow in appreciation of the mysteries of our faith, to share our community life, and to help us reach out to those in need.

• Our Generation of Faith process offers opportunities for enrichment at every age level.

• If you are new to our area, you may register in the parish by stopping by the parish office during office hours on weekdays, 8:30am to 9:00pm, on Saturdays from 9:00am to 12:30pm, or on Sunday from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Materials are also found on the east end of the commons (church foyer).
• If you, or someone you know would like to learn about becoming Catholic, you may call Fr. Jerry Melchior or Fr. Harry Buse at the parish office, 397-0407.
• If you are interested in a Catholic school for your children, we share a grade school (Pre K-8) with St. Pius X Parish. St. Pius X/ St. Leo school is located at 6905 Blondo St. The principal is Joyce Gubbels, phone 551-6667.
• If you have children attending public school and are interested in weekly religious education for your children (Grades 1-8), call Sue Doty at 397-0407. We also have a Sunday School program for all children, ages 3 through kindergarten.
• The Omaha area has a number of Catholic high schools. You would have to call the schools directly for information. Here at St. Leo, we have a youth program “Connections” for all high school students. Connections meets on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm and is led by our Youth and Young Adult Minister, John Gencarelli. You may call John at 397-0407.
• Here at St. Leo we are proud of our Sunday Liturgical celebrations. We welcome you to become part of the music ministry and other liturgical ministries. You may call Kelly Barth at 397-0407 if you would like to become part of these liturgical ministries. • St. Leo Parish is also involved in a number of outreach ministries. e.g. serving meals at local shelters. If you are interested in this type of ministry, call Dina Turco at the parish office, 397-0407.
• Grade 6 through Young Adults interested in the Performing Arts should consider The ACTS (Acting in Christ Through the Spirit) Drama Group. Call Sue Doty at 397-0407 if interested.
• Again, we welcome any new people to St. Leo Parish. At the same time, we challenge you to become more active in the practice of your faith by continuing your own faith formation, providing for the formation of your children and serving the needs of others. Please see enclosed ministry sign up sheet.
• Check out our website, www.stleo.net for weekly news and the bulletin.
Once again, welcome! Our parish community is more complete because you are with us.

In the Lord's love,

Fr. Harry Buse

Celebrating Children at St. Leo Parish
To the parents of our young children, may we suggest:
• Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t feel you have to suppress it in God’s house.
• Sit toward the front where it’s easier to see and hear.
• Quietly explain the parts of the Mass.
• Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you.
• If you need to leave Mass with your child, please feel free to do so, but please come back.
• Remember that the way we welcome children in church directly affects the way they respond to Church, to God, and to Christ. Let them know that they are at home in this Liturgical gathering.
To the members of the parish:
A smile of encouragement is always welcome to parents with small, active children.

Marry at Mass
Devotion to Mary remains a hallmark of the Catholic faith. Some people unfamiliar with our religion assume that prayer to Mary forms the backbone of the Mass. Wrong! Prayer to Mary is certainly the backbone of the rosary, but there isn't a single prayer addressed to Mary in the entire Mass, front to back, on any day of the liturgical year.
When it comes to prayer, we acknowledge Hebrews 7:25, which says Christ lives for ever to make intercession for us. So we direct our prayers to God through Christ.
However, because of Mary's central role in salvation history, she makes several appearances in the Mass texts every Mass, every day of the liturgical year.
Most important, Mary's name is pronounced right in the heart of Mass in the Eucharistic prayer. She is called by two titles made mystic by their juxtaposition: virgin and mother. In the second Eucharistic prayer for children, she is also called "Mother of God and our mother."
Mary also appears in the Creed, as the virgin who gave birth to the Word made flesh.
At times we celebrate a Mass in her honor, under a title like Mary, Mother of the Church, or to commemorate an event in her life, like the Visitation. A preface often prayed on these days echoes her song of praise, the Magnificat. But most frequently she is remembered as the Virgin Mother.
By connecting these two titles of Mary, the church invites us to reflect on her son. Mary's special role as the Virgin Mother reminds us that the miraculous birth of Jesus introduced the world to an extraordinary child whose miracles would never cease.
At first, the title "Mother of God" sounds wrong. God is the uncreated creator of all. How could God have a mother? That puzzling question draws us into a deeper meditation on the identity of Jesus. Because Jesus is both fully God and fully human, Mary must be called Mother of God.
In the liturgy Mary's role always bows to her son. She gives birth to him not only in time but in the liturgy and in our hearts. During the month of May, many will address devotions to Mary, and rightly so. But she will direct them to Christ.
Copyright (c) 1997 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. Paul Turner, pastor of St. John Regis Parish in Kansas City, Mo., holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome. His e-mail is PaulTu@aol.com.