A Day of Graces

On Sunday we finally got to meet my new niece, Zelie Marguerite. And we celebrated her reception into the church as she was baptized during the morning Mass at St Adelaide’s in Peabody.

She is so beautiful. I am in love with those wide eyes and delicate features. She reminds me so much of my own girls as babies. Cradling all eight pounds of her, I felt like I was hardly holding anything. I am so used to my twenty-something pound not-so-little baby.

Here she is being held by Fr. David after Mass. That’s her mother, my sister-in-law Evelyn and her big brother, Josh.

We had the privilege of meeting Fr David when he was a seminarian at Immaculate Conception in Salem and attended his very first Mass. My sister- and brother-in-law are lucky to have him at their parish.

Father David invited all the children to come up during the baptism. He gave a wonderful catechesis on the sacrament. Bella stood in the front and stared out at the children in the congregation except during the actual pouring of the water. Still, she was very cute.

St Adelaide’s had many beautiful statues. We took the girls on a tour after Mass.

I especially loved this Lady of Mount Carmel.

Father David predicted that baby Zelie, with her two Carmelite names, will be a Carmelite. (Wishful thinking on his part perhaps as he himself is a Carmelite.)

Sophie and her cousin, Cecilia. I think they look very alike.

We ended the day back home with burgers on the grill.