By Kathy-Ann Gobin

GREENWICH – More than two dozen Sacred Heart Greenwich senior class students were recently commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion during a Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

The annual school Mass highlighted the theme of love and friendship for this academic school year.

“The Scripture says that he who finds a friend, finds a great treasure,” said Bishop Caggiano, noting that in addition to a good education, some friendships forged at the school will become lifelong friendships. “That is a gift that is beyond price.”

Bishop Caggiano referred to the Gospel reading where Jesus asked Simon Peter, three times, ‘Do you love me?’

He explained that the third time Jesus asked, he used a Greek word that when translated, the question was, “Would you be my friend?”

“The only thing we need to say to the Lord every day is, ‘Yes, Lord, I want to be your friend. I want you to be mine,’ and He will help us to do whatever is needed to grow closer to Him, to know Him more deeply, to love Him more deeply, to pray ever more deeply, to be able to walk with Him or recognize His presence,” Bishop Caggiano said.

“Fall in love with the one friend above all of us, who will never, ever leave you behind,” said Bishop Caggiano, adding that friendship with Christ is confirmed each and every time a person receives the Eucharist.

“You are going to be blessed to have this great ministry in service,” Bishop Caggiano said to the 25 girls who volunteered to become Extraordinary Ministers. “When you stand up today, as I will, and say to a person, ‘The Body of Christ,’ and the person says, ‘Amen,’ I want you to hear in the back of your mind, ‘Will you be my friend?’ When we say ‘Amen,’ we are also saying, ‘yes,’ and Jesus will do everything else.”

“Of all the gifts you will receive, the friendship with Jesus will be the greatest gift of all,” the bishop said. “He lives in us, so that there is never a moment of any day of your life and mine that we face it alone.”

The senior students prepared for the ministry through formation and training instruction that teaches the reverence and responsibility involved in serving the Eucharist and the Church, in addition to the practical responsibilities.

Senior student Caeley Clough was also recently commissioned at her home parish of St. Aloysius in New Canaan.

“I’m just so honored to have the privilege and the blessing to give out the Eucharist. I think it’s such an honor in the Catholic Church,” Clough said.

“It just really feels like I’m much closer to God and stronger in my Catholic faith,” said Clough, adding, “It’s such a privilege to be able to give the Eucharist to my fellow classmates.”

Classmate Charlie Caffray agreed.

“I love distributing the Body and Blood of Christ; it just feels really rewarding, because this Church has given so much to me and has instilled so much of my faith, and guided so much of my life,” Caffray said.

For classmate Olivia Franco becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion continues her family legacy.

“It’s really, really exciting. My sister went here, too, and she was also a Eucharistic Minister,” Franco said. “So, it feels great to continue that legacy from my family, and also to serve God in a new way.”

“I’ve been an altar server in the past, so to be able to continue my journey with God in a new way is fantastic, and I’m really excited for the coming year of getting to be a Eucharistic Minister here,” Franco said.

Sacred Heart Greenwich School President, Michael Baber said the role of Extraordinary Minister gives students another opportunity to express the love of Christ and live a life of service.

“Love is not simply our theme for the year, but it’s how we’re told to live, how we learn, how we lead, and how we care for one another,” said Baber adding, “This is a wonderful opportunity for them to see their role in the Church. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of many roles in the Church throughout their life that starts here.”

Caffray said she is honored to be a Extraordinary Minister to the Sacred Heart Community. “I am very blessed and very excited to see what else is to come.”

The Mass, held in the gymnasium of the 110-acre campus, was attended by many parents of the students and also live-streamed for others who could not attend.

At the conclusion of Mass, the bishop thanked the students, teachers, parents and all those that support the students in their lives and with their education at Sacred Heart Greenwich.