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!!!
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).
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).
As we prepare to celebrate the Easter Triduum and reflect on what all this means during the 50-day Easter Season, I'm thinking about the apostles and what happened to them from the time of the Last Supper through the Crucifixion, Resurrection and after The Holy Spirit came to them at Pentecost. its' easy for me to believe that they could have echoed the words of Elvis Presley in one of his famous songs: "I'm All Shook Up." Once they were "shook up," they never were the same. Sometimes it is good for all of us to be "shook up" by the Lord, or others, and be challenged to embrace something new.
In the hope of getting more of our parishioners to experience the Lord more intimately and more often in the Eucharistic Celebration (The Mass), I have decided to change the daily Mass DURING THE EASTER SEASON to 8:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. I realize this "shakes up" the routine of our regular daily Mass participants AND ME, but I want to see if it might lead more of you to come to daily Mass for the experience of encountering Jesus and His many graces through His Word and His Body and Blood. I will evaluate (with the help of the daily Mass participants) whether to leave the daily Mass schedule this new way - or change it back to 9:00 a.m. once Easter Season is over.
I am confident that those who already appreciate the value of coming to Mass more often than the weekend (some every day) will make this sacrifice and will pray with me that more of their fellow parishioners will take advantage of something that is not offered, or not offered as much, in other parishes, "Daily Mass." It will mean a conscious "shaking up" of our routine at least once a week, and I'm hoping our Lenten journey has inspired us to draw ever close to the Lord and His Kingdom. The Mass in one tremendous way to do this!
This is my last chance, in writing, to encourage your participation in the Easter Triduum, both in Church and at home. Starting on Thursday evening (with Mass of the Lord's Supper) through the celebration of the Easter Vigil, give this time to the Lord and try to refrain from normal secular activities. Remember the mandatory fast for those ages 18-59 on Good Friday and abstinence from meat on Good Friday for those 14 years of age and older. Opportunities abound for personal and public prayer and reflection at church. Know that any time spent with and for the Lord in meditation on the great gift of hs Passion, Death and Resurrection will be rewarded with many blessings for you and your family and those whose lives you touch and that touch you in the future. Also, it would be great to have good participation in the Easter Vigil as we welcome Nathan Rust into the Church through the sacraments of initiation (and have a reception with cake, punch and coffee for Nathan after the Easter Vigil Mass).
In the hope of getting more of our parishioners to experience the Lord more intimately and more often in the Eucharistic Celebration (The Mass), I have decided to change the daily Mass DURING THE EASTER SEASON to 8:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. I realize this "shakes up" the routine of our regular daily Mass participants AND ME, but I want to see if it might lead more of you to come to daily Mass for the experience of encountering Jesus and His many graces through His Word and His Body and Blood. I will evaluate (with the help of the daily Mass participants) whether to leave the daily Mass schedule this new way - or change it back to 9:00 a.m. once Easter Season is over.
I am confident that those who already appreciate the value of coming to Mass more often than the weekend (some every day) will make this sacrifice and will pray with me that more of their fellow parishioners will take advantage of something that is not offered, or not offered as much, in other parishes, "Daily Mass." It will mean a conscious "shaking up" of our routine at least once a week, and I'm hoping our Lenten journey has inspired us to draw ever close to the Lord and His Kingdom. The Mass in one tremendous way to do this!
This is my last chance, in writing, to encourage your participation in the Easter Triduum, both in Church and at home. Starting on Thursday evening (with Mass of the Lord's Supper) through the celebration of the Easter Vigil, give this time to the Lord and try to refrain from normal secular activities. Remember the mandatory fast for those ages 18-59 on Good Friday and abstinence from meat on Good Friday for those 14 years of age and older. Opportunities abound for personal and public prayer and reflection at church. Know that any time spent with and for the Lord in meditation on the great gift of hs Passion, Death and Resurrection will be rewarded with many blessings for you and your family and those whose lives you touch and that touch you in the future. Also, it would be great to have good participation in the Easter Vigil as we welcome Nathan Rust into the Church through the sacraments of initiation (and have a reception with cake, punch and coffee for Nathan after the Easter Vigil Mass).