The "Highlight" children's magazine typically had a page where children (or adults) were challenged to find hidden objects in a picture.  Sometimes the objects seemed obvious and sometimes they were difficult to find.  I would like to challenge you to "picture" the narthex (the gathering area before you enter the main body of the church) and find the following:  The altar server's and the clergy's sacristies, the pictures of Pope Francis and Bishop Taylor, the art work of Father Nelson Rubio of the Blessed Mother holding the child Jesus, and the Memorial Tree.  While I hope you scored 100%, I have to wonder if there were many of you who immediately knew where our Memorial Tree is located.  If you are coming out of the church into the narthex, it is to the right of the entrance to the hallway that leads to our classrooms.  I must admit that I sometimes forget to offer to those who have lost loved ones in the parish, the opportunity to have a leaf prepared and put on the tree with their loved one's name on it.  When I do remember, I tell them that we ask a minimum of $50 for a leaf in memory of their loved one.  The money goes into our "Memorial Fund" which is used to buy liturgical items for our church to enhance our worship experience in church. 

Since I have missed more than a few people during funeral preparations, I want everyone who reads this to know that you can get a leaf added to the tree in memory of your loved one by touching base with Linda in the church office, letting her know what you want on the leaf (in writing), and giving her your donation to the Memorial Fund.  I encourage you to look at the tree sometime, and see what wording others have used.  I will promise to try and remember to pray for those whose names are on the tree at least once a week at one of our Masses.  As a side note, we have talked about getting signage in the narthex to identify the Memorial Tree and to mark entrances to such things as the Upper and Lower Hall stairs.  I have been surprised that some parishioners who have been in the parish awhile have asked me: "How do I get to the Upper Hall?"  I hope we take care of that with signage in the future.

The Triduum was beautiful and meaningful for all who participated.

I must admit that it seems to be a more complete Triduum when we have candidates for baptism and already-baptized believers who have decided to enter into full Communion of the Catholic faith community.  This year we had one of each.  Nathan Rust was baptized, confirmed and received his First Communion at the Easter Vigil and Gerri Erwin was received into the Church through a Profession of Faith, Confirmation and Holy Communion at the 8:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass.

The Church strongly promotes keeping the focus on those to be Baptized at the Easter Vigil Liturgy and to welcome already-baptized believers at any time during the Easter Season or throughout the Church year.  We congratulate Nathan and Gerri, and offer our continued support and example of what it is to be a witness to the risen Lord.  Perhaps this Easter Season we can all reflect on what it means to be a witness to the risen Lord.  It certainly takes a conscious effort to exude the joy and peace of the Lord at all times.

Pray to the Holy Spirit that he will enkindle divine love in each one of us and all disciples of Jesus.  That effort will hopefully mean that we will welcome more into the faith at next year's Easter Vigil and at other times during the year.

A Blessed Easter Season to all of us!!!

First of all, a Blessed Easter to all of you!  May the joy and peace of the crucified and risen Lord bless you, not only on Easter and in the beautiful 50-day Easter season, BUT ALWAYS!

Whem I think of Easter and the Easter Season, the first book of the Bible that comes to my mind is the "Act of the Apostles."  It is the earliest biblical account of the early church from its birth at Pentecost to its growth in that region of the world and all the way to Rome.  When I think of Easter and the Easter Season, the first word that comes to my mind is EVANGELIZATION!  That was, and is the mission of the Church and of ALL BELIEVERS (not just the ordained)!

While I encourage you to sign-up and participate in the four-week study on the Sacraments (look in the bulletin for details), I was drawn to a ten-week study on evangelization that is found on FORMED.ORG which can be done individually or in a group setting.  If any of you feel the call to work in the area of evangelization (of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Church to those who are ignorant of, or lapsed in, their faith), let me know and I would be glad to head up this study, which hopefuly will lead to concrete ideas and actions of how to spread the Faith in our little corner of the world.  I look forward to us offering this ten-week study to the whole parish in the future as ALL OF US are called in some way to be evangelizers through our baptism.

I also want to remind you that we are curently doing the nine-day Divine Mercy Novena which will culminate with Divine Mercy Sunday, next Sunday, April 8, with our special Holy Hour from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.  The Novena started on Good Friday, but those who didn't start it then, can still participate in the rest of the Novena (at home/or at church after daily Mass) or begin the nine days on your own and finish it in the days following Divine Mercy Sunday.  Use the red pamphlet that was an insert in the bulletin on Passion/Palm Sunday.

I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliatioin on Saturday, April 7, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, and from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. and on Divine Mercy Sunday from 2:30 to 3:00 and 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. (before and after our Divine Mercy Holy Hour).