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Dear Friends in Christ,

Today we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the new church of St. Peter 's in LaGrange. I was not here fifteen years ago, but I hope that I can join with you in the memories and joys which are summoned up by this day of recollection and thanksgiving.

The first thing to do on an anniversary, is to look back and remember the event itself. I am sure, that when the time came for the decision to be made, to remove from the old St. Peter's, and to begin a new parish life in a new place and new buildings, that there were many conflicting emotions felt by the parishioners. It is never easy to leave a place that one has called home - and this is perhaps even more difficult, when the home is the home of our souls - the home of all those memories we have, of births and baptisms and marriages, of struggles with daily life, of bidding farewell to those we have loved, who have been called to their eternal lives with God.

Nothing can obliterate the fact, that we identify these events with a particular place, and that for all time, our memories will be centered around that place. I do not know if the old St. Peter's even still exists - but I do know that for many of you, it was very hard to leave that place, and that when you walk or drive by the ground where old St. Peter's stood, your hearts must be stirred within you, to recall what you left behind.

Today, one of the most important things we can do, is to offer these feelings to God, and to admit before Him, that what He calls us to do is not always to our liking - not always easy for us to do. But God loves us - He shows this especially to the members of His one true Church, the Catholic Church, and He would have never desired and brought about this move, if He had not already planned for the good of His people in advance.

Many people worked to create this new St. Peter's, whose 15 th birthday we are celebrating. Many people worked to hold on to, or to restore the peace within this community that was disturbed by the move. At this Mass, it is also important for us to remember all who had a part in bringing about the move, who worked to plan and build the new St. Peter's, and whose faith in God, and loyalty to this parish family, were not shaken by the necessity of leaving the old for the new - the priests, the deacons and sisters, the lay men and women, who served the community, and especially those who have, since that time, been called by God.

In recalling those times, fifteen years ago, in recalling the difficulties and also the courage that filled this community, we are observing the first reason to have an anniversary celebration such as this - the first obligation, of being thankful to God for being a Mover in our lives - for guiding us, and for sending us leaders, helpers, inspirers, who, by His mercy and love, can work for the good of the family, the family that we form, by our Baptism into the Church, and by the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The second truth that gives meaning to this anniversary day, is our consideration of the actual time that has passed - the fifteen years that we mark with this Mass, and with this day of remembrance.

Some might say that fifteen years is not long at all. And certainly, in the scheme of human history, fifteen years is but a tiny jot on the page of earthly events. But God, although He sees all things, does not overlook the individual moments and events in the lives of those He has created, in the lives of those He loves.

Every single moment in these fifteen years are as important to Him, as they are to us, who have felt their passing - felt their passing in the births of our children, in watching those who were infants grow into young manhood and womanhood - felt their passing in the marriages of our sons and daughters, in the creation of new families, to add life to our Church and to our beloved country - and felt the passing of these fifteen years, in the hard but true reality of saying good-bye to those who have died to this life, and been raised to the new life, the life that awaits us all in Heaven.

These events - birth, life, death - are the meat and drink of our hearts - they are what makes us not only know, but feel that we are humans, created by God, and desired by Him to experience all that life offers, all the good, joyful and sorrowful, that life can bring to us. People worry about death, but if God could create us, could create our lives out of nothing, if He could number the hairs on our heads, and if He could be with us, as we struggle daily, over a year, over fifteen years, over a lifetime - if He could bring these things out of nothing, and make them real, then surely the simple task of giving us a life beyond this one can be no challenge for Him.

The real challenge is for us to believe it, and to let His love raise up belief in our minds and in our hearts. Anniversaries are days when we look at our lives, when we look at the passage of time and events, and affirm to ourselves and to one another, that there is meaning, and that there is a final reward for all that we do. After thanking God for the event which gives this anniversary meaning, the move of St. Peter's Church into its new facilities fifteen years ago, let us add to those thanks, gratitude for His constant presence in our lives, in the time that has passed, in the time that will pass, before our lives are done.

And finally, on this anniversary, on every occasion which brings us together as believers, and especially as Catholic believers, who share in the full truth of His revelation, let us thank God for giving us food for the journey we must make - the food that is the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the first reading, we heard the story of the prophet Elijah, who after great difficulties, was tormented by despair and asking God for death. Elijah fell into a deep sleep and when he awoke, God had sent an angel to bring him food and drink, to refresh his soul. He ate and drank and fell into sleep again. But then, after awaking a second time, God explained that there was more work yet to be done, that the journey must continue. Elijah ate and drank a second time, and then, nourished, strengthened, went upon his way, ready and able once again, to do the work of God.

This was but a part of the promise that God was forever making His people, a promise that reached its perfect fulfillment in the words we have heard Christ the Lord speak in today's Gospel:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

Dear friends, the anniversaries we mark, the great moves in our lives, the events that give meaning to the time we spend on earth - all are drawn up, and given true meaning in what Christ has given us - Himself, so that we may have life forever - then, now, and forever. And that life comes to us, first and foremost, in the Holy Eucharist, in the act of our receiving His Body and Blood. When He died for us, the Father in Heaven took the life of His Son, and with the greatest love possible, returned It to us for all time. At Mass, we celebrate, in a true way, the anniversary of His death, and of His rising - but we take within us, by His Body and Blood, what He Himself tells us that He is - the living bread, His flesh for the life of the world.

On this anniversary, let us remember those events sacred to our parish, sacred to our own individual lives, and let us give thanks to God who gives our lives meaning and purpose. But above all, and always, let us remember the death Christ has died for us, and the life that He has given us. His sacrifice, is, and will be, the most important event, the most important fact, the most important anniversary in our lives. For every day, and every moment has been made worthy, has been made holy, has been made truly livable, because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. And our celebration, our joy, our happiness, can not, and will never end.

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