Happy Seventh Sunday of Easter! In today’s first reading, we notice that some of the crowd did not want to hear what Saint Stephen had to say. The most likely reason was that Saint Stephen was reproaching them for their lack of faith. Sometimes we too close our ears and hearts to Jesus and decide not to follow His will, thinking we know better. One sign that we know we are doing Jesus’ will is that we experience peace of mind and heart. Conversely, when we are not following His inspiration – anxiety and uncertainty can settle in.
If we have a decision or major event coming up in our lives, we can quiet ourselves and talk to Jesus about the situation and then sit and listen to what He has to say. Unfortunately, we will not receive a text or a post as in the TV show God Friended Me, but He will speak to our hearts if we are willing to listen. As a reminder, good listeners give the person speaking 100% attention. They do not interrupt while the other is talking, and they have an open mind and heart to hear what the speaker has to say.
In Revelation today, John shares what he heard from Jesus, “I will give to each according to his deeds.” On this Memorial Day weekend, we give thanks to God for all the selfless deeds of men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that we may live in peace and freedom in this beautiful country that we call home.
One important deed that Jesus reminds us to practice is that of unity. Oneness and respect for one another are essential if there is to be a peaceful coexistence among people. It seems that we could use more unity in our homes, our neighborhoods, our country, and our world. May we pray together to Mary, Queen of Peace, for greater unity among all. United with Jesus and one another, all things are possible!
Saturday May 28th 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday May 29th 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday May 30th 8:00 am † Sister Jeanne Patricia Crowe
Tuesday May 31st Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 6:30 am Intentions of the McGoldrick Family
Wednesday June 1st St. Justin Martyr 6:30 am † William Adelsburger
Thursday June 2nd Ss. Marcellinus & Peter 6:30 am † Phyllis Talese
Friday June 3rd Ss. Charles Lwanga & companions 6:30 am † Dolores Purtell
Saturday June 4th 8:00 am † Mary and Joseph Garofalo
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, Magdalena Baumeister, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
Jesus spent such a short time on earth with us. Thirty-three years seems to be not enough time to do all the work we all wanted Him to do. In fact, Revelation itself ends when the death of the last apostle takes place. We have been told everything we need to know about Jesus, who He is, who the Father is, and what He calls us to do. Our human nature wants everything easy; we always want more. Jesus knew this about us; He created us. This is why He sends us the Holy Spirit: the Advocate, the Paraclete, the Third Person of the Trinity, who stands beside us and in us to guide us through this part of our eternal lives.
The Holy Spirit is always in motion in our lives. All of the graces and gifts from God are brought to us by the Holy Spirit. The authority of our Church and the work of its ministers from the Pope down to the deacon flows through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspired the Word of God we read in Scripture. It is through the Holy Spirit the sacraments are brought to us, where our relationship with Christ flourishes. And most of all, it is the Holy Spirit we are sealed with to become full children of God and to spread and proclaim His Word. The Holy Spirit draws our interior spirit close to Jesus. We are called to be closer to Him and to the Father than even the apostles were!
Teilhard Chardin once said that the law of gravity and the law of love ultimately have the same source and are both driven by the same spirit, the Holy Spirit. We can not deny the power and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives just as much as we cannot ignore the laws of gravity. What we need to do is embrace the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us through our lives.
May Jesus live in our hearts forever. Deacon Chris
Saturday May 21st St. Christopher Magallanes & companions 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday May 22nd 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday May 23rd 6:30 am † Elaine Schemm
Tuesday May 24th 6:30 am † Robert Degnan
Wednesday May 25th St. Bede the Venerable; St. Gregory VII; St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi 6:30 am † Sr. Judith Moeller, IHM
Thursday May 26th The Ascension 6:30 am † Kevin McGoldrick 9:00 am Intentions of the Parishioners 7:00 pm † Claire Mansfield
Friday May 27th St. Augustine of Canterbury 6:30 am † Deceased members of the McMahon & Reilly Family
Saturday May 28th 8:00 am † Alfred Messina
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, Magdalena Baumeister, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
We hear about love all the time, and all of Jesus’ commands have to do with love: “Do this in memory of me”; “Go and make disciples of all nations;” “Love one another;” “Love your enemies;” and so on. Love is so important, but sometimes we expect so much from it that we are blinded from seeing it in our lives. We don’t give love a chance to show us what it truly is. We put conditions on it by saying to ourselves — I expect love to be this or that and if this or that doesn’t happen, then it must not be love. Or, even worse, if this or that doesn’t happen, then I must not be loved by God!!
God’s love for us and how He shows us has nothing to do with conditions. God’s love is unconditional. Can we accept love from Him without conditions or expectations? Can we choose to love Him and others without conditions or expectations like He does? God’s love is a choice. He freely loves us. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” God loves us first!!! And His love is shown all throughout creation.
Today, take some time and pray and really reflect on: What do I expect from love? Are my expectations blinding me from seeing how God loves me? The more we can stop expecting how we should be loved, the more we will truly see His love in the world.
Saturday May 14th St. Matthias the Apostle 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday May 15th 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday May 16th 6:30 am Intentions of Fr. Steven Kiernan
Tuesday May 17th 6:30 am † Donato Buccini
Wednesday May 18th St. John I 6:30 am † Dolores Purtell
Thursday May 19th 6:30 am † Kathleen Barrett
Friday May 20th St. Bernardine of Siena 6:30 am † Betty and Bill Power
Saturday May 21st St. Christopher Magallanes & companions 8:00 am † Francis and Louise Lindgren
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, Magdalena Baumeister, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
Dear Parishioners, On this Good Shepherd Sunday, Jesus tells us that He knows his sheep and his sheep hear his voice. Just as the Palestinian shepherds knew each sheep of their flock by name, and the sheep knew their shepherd and his voice, so Jesus knows each one of us, our needs, our merits and our faults. He loves us as we are, with all our limitations, and He expects us to return his love by listening and fervently responding in faith to his voice. God communicates with us in silence, and through Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and other people.
God talks to us in silence, not in noise and screaming and jumping and yelling. He tells us, “I am your shepherd, and my Son is your shepherd, and He walks in great silence through your whole life, every morning, all day, day after day, month after month, year after year.” You have to listen and hear and open your heart to the wonder of the Good Shepherd’s silent caring for you, worrying about you, guiding you through all kinds of situations, and yet you know that He will never leave you, He will always be there, and His joy is to be at the center of the silence in our lives.
Through the inspired words of Sacred Scripture, the Lord speaks to our hearts. Attentive listening to the Readings, the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel and the Homily every time we attend Mass, fills our minds and our hearts with the voice of God. The daily practice of ‘Lectio Divina’ which is the meditative, sacred reading of a passage from the Holy Bible, is another excellent means to become imbued with the mind of Christ.
The Lord communicates with us powerfully through his gift of the Sacraments. He gives eternal life to us, his sheep by receiving us into his sheepfold, and giving us Faith through Baptism. He strengthens our Faith in Confirmation. The tremendous gift of His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist sharpens our ability to listen and respond in love to his Divine Inspirations in our life. He makes our society holy through the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders.
Jesus is more than just a shepherd because He is the gate. He is the way to enter a new space, the space where we do what He calls us to do. It is Jesus’ voice which calls us to greater concern for each other and for building a community of trusting relationships so all can benefit. As Jesus knows and cares for us, so should we know and care for each other. That is the space He wants us in. We need to create that space.
Let us resolve to create spaces of silence in our lives, to prayerfully reflect on Sacred Scripture, frequently receive the Sacraments and show love and concern for others. Listen to Jesus, your Shepherd calling you. Listen to others actively. Become a listener!
May the Good Shepherd bless you! Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM
Saturday May 7th 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday May 8th 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday May 9th 6:30 am † Haddie Bofinger and deceased residents of Garden Spring Nursing Home
Tuesday May 10th 6:30 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson Families
Wednesday May 11th 6:30 am † Robert Degnan
Thursday May 12th Ss. Nereus & Achilleus; St. Pancras 6:30 am † Mary Dougherty
Friday May 13th Our Lady of Fatima 6:30 am † Lawrence J. Tobin
Saturday May 14th St. Matthias the Apostle 8:00 am † Ruth McKee
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
… all those who are deceased… Dominick Tempesta & Marian Gray…
Happy third Sunday of Easter! In today’s Gospel, we know that, like Peter, we mess up and sin plenty of times. We realize, that on the night before Jesus died, Peter denied Jesus three times. We also recognize that Peter regretted telling others he didn’t even know his dear friend, Jesus, because after denying Him, Peter went out and cried bitterly. Jesus in asking Peter three times did he love Him wasn’t trying to berate Peter and make him feel worse than he already did. Jesus was aware of Peter’s deep sorrow, and in asking Peter did he love Him, was guiding Peter to understand that His love and mercy are stronger than any sin he or we could ever commit. This realization not only humbled proud Peter but, with Jesus’ forgiveness, strengthened him for his new mission of leading the Church.
When we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings before the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are given God’s grace to strengthen us as we begin again. This is why we pray, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like Yours.” We cannot do it alone, but only with God’s grace in us. Therefore, our faith should fill us with hope!
With these truths in mind, the greatest way we can deepen our relationship with our Redeemer is by receiving His very Body, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. Participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reading Jesus’ words in the Gospels, spending time with Him in daily prayer, praying the rosary with family and friends, or sitting silently in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament are additional means to strengthen our relationship with Jesus. By incorporating these practices into our lives, we, like Peter, may answer Jesus as He asks each of us individually, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus will then invite us, “Follow Me.” Bishop Barron’s reflection on this Gospel tells us, “The test of love is action. Are we willing to do what Jesus did? Are we willing to go on a mission on His behalf?”
Saturday April 30th St. Pius V 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday May 1st 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday May 2nd St. Athanasius 6:30 am † Mary Flaherty
Tuesday May 3rd Ss. Philip & James 6:30 am † Angel Luis Torres III
Wednesday May 4th 6:30 am † Charles Barnes Jr.
Thursday May 5th 6:30 am † Thomas Coates
Friday May 6th 6:30 am † John and Betty Bertman
Saturday May 7th 8:00 am † Pallisco Family
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
… all those who are deceased…Patricia Heesen, Dorothy Hammar, Sister Kathleen Dolores Keenan, IHM, & Sister Elizabeth Marie Welding, IHM…
The message given in the Gospel today is an easy one to reflect on. Even without seeing the message of love and faith, it is probably one of the best and most comforting messages we can receive. We Christians of today have not seen, in person, the Risen Christ. We only have the gift of faith from God and the witness of the early Christians. Through their witness and our gift of faith, the Church that Christ founded has been here for over two thousand years. I have heard and read this Gospel many times. I can see the message of faith in it clearly, but there is something in this Gospel that causes me to pause and reflect. Why? Why would the risen and glorified Christ still have the wounds from His passion? He has just completed the task that God the Father had asked him to do. For God’s glory and our own salvation, He has defeated sin and death. Just a short time after this, He will ascend into Heaven and sit at the righthand of God on the throne of power as our true and only King. So, why the wounds?
Jesus was called Rabbi or Teacher during His earthly ministry, and I believe He never stops teaching us how to love one another. He had been betrayed, beaten, whipped, crowned with thorns, mocked, and crucified. He has been deeply marked by injuries, humiliation, and death. Yet, what are the first words He says, “Peace. I forgive you.” The apostles can see the wounds they contributed and yet Christ forgives them. He teaches us that forgiveness, even when not deserved, does not take away the wounds inflicted but it does ease the burden of carrying them. When we are filled with God’s forgiveness, we know how appropriate it is to offer forgiveness without it being earned. Forgiveness frees. We are no longer stuck, caught, or bound down. We can see the power of forgiveness and power of Christ’s wounds in Thomas.
Thomas is defeated. He is incredibly sad. His Master, his Teacher, his Friend has been killed. All the words and teachings that Jesus has spoken seem to be lost. Everything he loved is gone. He is a desperate man. But when he sees the Risen Jesus and the wounds He still carries, Thomas falls to his knees, and is healed and forgiven, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus has taught us to forgive seventy times seven times and through many parables He has taught the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness is so central to our lives that our own forgiveness is affected by our ability to forgive. Being able to forgive as Christ does, wounds and all, allows us to be free and love as Jesus loves us.
May Jesus live in our hearts forever. Deacon Chris
Saturday April 23rd 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday April 24th Divine Mercy Sunday 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday April 25th St. Mark the Evangelist 6:30 am † Eileen Delzingaro
Tuesday April 26th 6:30 am † Gertrude O’Hara Dalton
Wednesday April 27th 6:30 am † Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beck
Thursday April 28th St. Peter Chanel & St. Louis Grignion de Montfort 6:30 am † Floss Rush
Friday April 29th St. Catherine of Siena 6:30 am † Mary Rose Tobin
Saturday April 30th St. Pius V 8:00 am † William Morris
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
… all those who are deceased…Helen Jurkiewicz; Josephine Linden; Sister Mary King, IHM; Sister Barbara Maria Bamberger, IHM; Sister M. Patricia Considine, IHM….
About 10 years ago, I was out with a couple of friends of mine and we ran into a retired MLB baseball player. I didn’t know who he was, but when my friend saw him, he lit up, as this was one of his favorite baseball players growing up. He went to talk to him and asked if he could take a picture with him, and the player said yes. My friend handed me his smart phone and I clicked the button about ten times to makes sure I got the picture. As the player walks off, my friend asks, “Did you get it?” “Yes,” I said very confidently, as I handed him back the phone! He checked his phone and says, “Where is it?” I said, “It should be there — I pushed this button ten times to take the picture.” He looked at me with an angry face and said, “That’s the volume button!” To this day, for some reason my friend would rather have a stranger take a picture over me!
It seems like in today’s age, it is so easy to capture a moment with someone whom we admire, whose talent we know on some profound level, as long as they know how to work a camera. We can capture the moment with a camera and share it with friends on social media instantly, but in Jesus’ time they didn’t have the ability to take a picture. They didn’t even have the ability to get an autograph, but what they had were these encounters and the stories to share about these encounters. This way of witness has changed people forever.
In the next serval weeks, we will hear about these encounters with the Risen Christ. We will hear about this with Mary Magdala, the apostles in the upper room, the two people on the road to Emmaus and so much more. These encounters filled people with so much joy and hope that without them sharing their encounters with the Risen Christ, we would not have the Christian faith. The Resurrection of the dead is the be all and the end all of the Christian faith.
This truth is so important to us that if Jesus had not been raised from the dead, than I and all Christians of the world should just go and do something else. We are confronted with this question daily: Did it happen or not? He is either our savior who rose from the dead for us, or he is a liar and a bad man. There is no middle ground.
Through the generations we have had saints upon saints for 2000 years that dedicated their lives to express their witness to the risen Christ. They believed it in the depths of their hearts. Their belief gives us hope. Their testimonies can help us, the ones who remain in this life, to not fall back into fear: the fear that I am alone, the fear that no one cares, the fear that this is all there is to life. We Christians have true reason to hope in Christ’s promise of the Easter life. We have true reasons as the faithful not tofear what everyone else fears. They fear death, but we the faithful rejoice in what Jesus has done for us. Why do we rejoice? Because we get to go HOME! This is not our home; we are pilgrim people on an earthly journey to our Home.
The witness’ of Christ’s Resurrection is so much more powerful than instant pictures shared on social media. Their true testimony of love should give us Hope that the story of human life is not birth, life, and death. No; for Christians it is life, death, and Resurrection. If we live with Christ and die with Christ, we will rise with Christ. This Easter way of living has changed even the hardest of hearts to become great Saints. How has it changed ours? If it hasn’t or our relationship with him isn’t where we think it should be, how are we prepared for this encounter?
Once again, I want to share the vision for our parish, my hope for St David parish for this generation and the next: “Knowing Jesus is the best gift that any person can receive; that we have encountered him is the best thing that has happened in our lives, and making him known by our word and deeds is our joy.” -Pope Benedict
Jesus Christ has Risen today! Do not be afraid to experience His love!!
Saturday April 16th Holy Saturday 8:00 pm Intentions of the Presider
Sunday April 17th Easter Sunday 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday April 18th 8:00 am † Marge Lawnton
Tuesday April 19th 6:30 am † Jennifer Beerley – 30th Anniversary
Wednesday April 20th 6:30 am † Adele Tiburzio
Thursday April 21st 6:30 am † Lawrence J. Tobin
Friday April 22nd 6:30 am † Lawrence Tobin, Jr
Saturday April 23rd 8:00 am † Alfred Messina
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
Dear Parishioners, The drama of Holy Week begins today as we reflect on the Passion according to St. Luke. Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah proclaims, “The Lord has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” The question we can ask ourselves is: In what areas of my life am I ‘weary’? Is it at home? Is it at work? Is it in our prayer life? Let us implore the Holy Spirit to lead our hearts and minds to the words of today’s Gospel that will rouse us from weariness.
There is a moment that I find particularly meaningful that is only found in the Gospel of St. Luke. It is the dialogue between Jesus and the two condemned men crucified with him on both sides. They are both not named, however tradition refers to the repentant criminal as Dismas and the unrepentant criminal as Gestas. The fact that they are not named invites us to consider, how are we like these men? In what areas of my life am I like Gestas? In what areas of my life am I like Dismas? We refer to Dismas as St. Dismas because Jesus promises him that he will be with Jesus in heaven. This is remarkable because by Dismas’ own admission, he says that he deserves to be crucified for his crimes. However, his true repentance is reflected in his prayer of abandonment, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus responds, “Amen, I say to you, this day you will be with me in Paradise.” St. Dismas can also represent all of humanity. We all face the certainty of dying someday. Jesus can therefore be seen as speaking to all who trust in him his pledge of salvation and eternal life.
Looking back to Isaiah’s promise of a word that can lift us from spiritual weariness, it is helpful to spend some time reflecting on the examples of Gestas and St. Dismas. How can we avoid closing our hearts like Gestas in favor of opening our hearts like St. Dismas? When are the times in life that you feel like you are carrying a heavy cross? When are the times in life that you feel crucified, perhaps even justifiably? When are the times in life when you feel weary?
During Holy Week, we are invited to feel and experience God’s mercy in our lives. When we find ourselves crucified in life, we encounter a God, who far from abandoning us, wants to be crucified right next to us. This week we encounter a God who wants to be crucified for us, in our place for the sake of our salvation. Let us make this week Holy by allowing the mercy of God to touch our hearts.
Accept the challenge to make this Holy Week a Retreat Experience for you and your family. Spend these first few days meditating on the mercy of God clearly shown in St. Luke’s account of the Passion. Open your heart to our Savior by attending the Tenebrae Service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM, prayerfully participate in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 7:00 PM, the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday at 3:00 PM, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 8:00 PM or the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. Let us make this week Holy by opening our hearts to God’s mercy and sharing his love with everyone we encounter.
May God love and bless you! Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM
Saturday April 9th 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday April 10th 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday April 11th 6:30 am † Dina Eagan
Tuesday April 12th 6:30 am † Catherine Tobin
Wednesday April 13th 6:30 am † Elizabeth Beck
Thursday April 14th 7:00 pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Intentions of the Presider
Saturday April 16th Holy Saturday 8:00 pm Intentions of the Presider
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
… all those who are deceased… Rita Marasco & Theodore Weathers…
+Dear Saint David Parishioners, As we celebrate this final Sunday before Holy Week, there is much upon which to reflect.
1. Where will we meet Jesus on His Way to the Cross? Will we spend extra time with Him to thank Him for the awesome gift of redeeming us from sin? Will we be like the sinful woman, recognizing our sinfulness and receiving Jesus’ mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Participating in this sacrament offers us the opportunity to begin anew!
2. As we approach these most solemn days, let us share the depths of Jesus’ love with our family members by participating in the Holy Week liturgies. I remember as a child, Mom and Dad would pile us in the station wagon and head to church for Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies. I have to be honest, sometimes we did complain, but it was short-lived because we knew that Mom and Dad were in charge, and we were not. When it came to attending special liturgies, it was basically understood that it wasn’t a matter for discussion. It made Holy Week stand out from the rest of the year because our parents explained to us that Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to make the ultimate painful sacrifice to save us from sin. Attending these Holy Week services became an important tradition in our family.
3. We learn in today’s Gospel that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save us from its judgments and sin. Like the woman caught in adultery, we can confidently trust in Jesus’ mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. Some theologians believe that what Jesus was scribbling in the dirt were the sins of the woman’s accusers. One by one the crowd dropped the stone which they were so readily to hurl at her because she was a sinner. What a lesson for us. When we are quick to pass judgment on another, perhaps we should consider our own sins, faults, and failings. Therefore, rather than throwing stones of hurtful gossip, we may instead pray for the person and pray for ourselves that we may have a more charitable tongue and heart. Jesus freed the woman and us from sin so that we can turn away from our former way of life and start living more in accordance with Jesus’ way.
4. During Holy Week, let us make it our goal to spend extra time with Jesus, and then on Easter Sunday, we will truly rejoice for we will have Jesus’ resurrected life within us.
May the Risen Jesus fill your heart and homes with His peace, joy, love, and new life!
Saturday April 2nd St. Francis of Paola 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday April 3rd 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday April 4th St. Isidore 6:30 am † Joseph Visco
Tuesday April 5th St. Vincent Ferrer 6:30 am † Alicia Dempsey
Wednesday April 6th 6:30 am † Joseph McFadden
Thursday April 7th St. John Baptist de la Salle 6:30 am † Dina Eagan
Friday April 8th 6:30 am † Joann Hetrick
Saturday April 9th 8:00 am † Mark Welliver
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
When I was a child, Friday nights at my house were very special. It would be a family night and we would all watch TV together. My mom would allow us to have soda, and the snack of choice was always Cheetos. We would all gather on the couch and watch The Nanny and the Professor, The Partridge Family, and the crown jewel, The Brady Bunch. Our favorite episode of the Brady Bunch was the one about Peter when he saves a little girl’s life. He is at a toy store, and he notices a shelf falling over with a little girl in its path. He rushes in and pushes the little girl out of the way, saving her life. He is then praised through the news and his family and community as a “Boy Hero.” Peter loves this attention so much that he starts to treat his family and friends very poorly. He portrays himself as better than others because of he saved the little girl. He even goes as far as to throw himself a party to celebrate how much of a hero he is. The day of the party arrives, and no one comes. It is a real wake-up call for Peter. His family, realizing Peter has learned his lesson in humility, ends up throwing a party for him to celebrate his lesson learned. Another Brady Bunch happy ending. A sappy 70’s sitcom stealing a message from the Gospels.
The humble path that Jesus himself took to become our Savior is another lesson we should learn from. He never exalts Himself, but gives Himself completely over to His Father in Heaven. Our society constantly bombards us with people who are exalting themselves. Just watch an NFL football game. Touchdown dances are applauded but when a man takes a knee to pray, he is ridiculed. The Pharisees love to do touchdown dances. They exalt themselves in their righteousness, forgetting that they, too, are sinners. They feel that since they have lived good lives, they deserve all the good gifts. They do not realize that until they recognize their own sins, turn themselves completely over to God, and celebrate when others turn themselves over to God, that they will miss the feast offered by our Lord. Lent is the time when we can reflect on when we have been too righteous and when it is time to go to the Father humbly asking for his forgiveness. It is also a time to pray and encourage others to return to God, and at Easter, to celebrate not only their return but ours also.
Maybe it would not have been as entertaining a show, but how beautiful would it have been if Peter took a knee and thanked God for placing him in that store that day to save the little girl.
May Jesus live in our hearts forever. Deacon Chris
Saturday March 26th 4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners
Sunday March 27th 7:00 am Intentions of the Presider 9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 11:00 am Intentions of the Presider
Monday March 28th 6:30 am † Thomas Larkin
Tuesday March 29th 6:30 am † Gerard O’Brien
Wednesday March 30th 6:30 am † Elvira Esposito
Thursday March 31st 6:30 am † Thomas M. Robinson
Friday April 1st 6:30 am † Patricia Magowan
Saturday April 2nd St. Francis of Paola 8:00 am † William Morris
Remembering in our Prayers… … all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.
