God’s Creative Genius

              The artist Norman Rockwell insisted on using ordinary people as models. Many of the people in his paintings were his neighbors and friends. He felt that real people captured something you can’t find in professional models. He summed it up beautifully. “All of the artist’s creativeness,” he once said, “cannot equal God’s creativeness.”

Today our minds are challenged to ponder the genius of God in the mystery of the Holy Trinity: one God in three persons. Truly, God’s creativeness far exceeds our own and his love overwhelms us. God loves us so much… He created us, as God the Father. God loves us so much… He became one of us, as God the Son. God loves us so much… He remains with us, as God the Holy Spirit – abiding with us and continuing in astonishing ways, His creation. God finds delight in us – even though we are prone to selfishness and sin. But, incredibly, He loves us anyway.

God loves us so much, He cannot contain Himself. He wants to share Himself with us – to give us all that He has. God is so generous… He gave Himself in flesh, to suffer with us and die for us. He is so generous… He continues to give Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist. God is so generous… He shares with us gifts: wisdom and understanding… courage and piety… knowledge and counsel and fear of the Lord.

Our God loves us beyond our wildest imaginings – three distinct persons but with limitless possibilities. He wants us to discover and celebrate His unending love for us. Our God is constantly calling out to us, but not necessarily with words. The fact is: God wants to be found and He gives us so many opportunities. There are so many times when we travel through even the darkest tunnels of our lives and then come out the other side to encounter, unexpectedly, something surprising and beautiful and holy. It might be in a mountain. It might be in watching a toddler learning to walk, or in hearing a kind word from a stranger. It might be in the broken bread of the Holy Eucharist. God is present. If we only look, we will find Him.

Norman Rockwell found something of God in ordinary people and created some beloved and popular works of art. Each of us is called to create our own work of art, from the many colors of our own lives. It begins by discovering the greatest artist of all, The One whose creative genius guides everything.

This Trinity Sunday we are reminded again of the limitless possibilities of God – one God who cannot be contained, but must co-exist as three persons. Let us seek Him out in all His creativity, in all His manifestations as Father, as Brother, as Counselor and Friend. He is ready to help us because He is a God who wants to be found.

May the Triune God bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday June 3rd Ss. Charles Lwanga & companions
4:00 pm For Peace in Eastern Europe

Sunday June 4th
7:00 am Intentions of the Parishioners
9:00 am Intentions of the Presider
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday June 5th St. Boniface
6:30 am † John and Ann Sypher 

Tuesday June 6th St. Norbert
6:30 am † Thomas P. Pileggi Sr.

Wednesday June 7th
6:30 am † Aleta Ostrander

Thursday June 8th
6:30 am The Family of Dolores and Albert Anderson

Friday June 9th St. Ephrem
6:30 am Thomas Quaresima

Saturday June 10th
8:00 am † Mary Turner

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Frank Martin, Barbara Ramsden, Jeff Caesar, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased … Bill Evans…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,

       This will be my last letter as, by Holy Obedience, I move on to meet the IHM Congregational need as principal of Lourdes Regional PreK 3 – Grade 12 School in Coal Township, Pennsylvania. I have been blessed to serve at Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School these past four years with educators and staff members who give their all to serve the wonderful students at our school. I thank Father Windle and Father Janton for their continued incredible support of Catholic education. I am also grateful to have served with my IHM Sisters at Saint David Convent. I sincerely thank the school parents for believing in and supporting QOA!

       On this feast of Pentecost, I pray that the Holy Spirit fill each Parishioner and your loved ones with His gifts today and always. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Alleluia!

Until we meet again, In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am, with love, prayers, and thanks,
Sister Mary

Saturday May 27th St. Augustine of Canterbury
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday May 28th Pentecost Sunday
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am Intentions of the Presider
11:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe

Monday May 29th Mary, Mother of the Church
6:30 am † Vincent Penecale

Tuesday May 30th
6:30 am † Sister Jeanne Patricia Crowe

Wednesday May 31st Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:30 am † Patricia Frederick

Thursday June 1st St. Justin Martyr
6:30 am † Aleta Ostrander

Friday June 2nd Ss. Marcellinus & Peter
6:30 am † Deceased members of the McMahon & Reilly Families

Saturday June 3rd Ss. Charles Lwanga & companions
8:00 am † Mary and Joseph Garofalo

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Bill Evans, Frank Martin, Barbara Ramsden, Jeff Caesar, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Jesus Ascends Into Heaven

On Thursday, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension. Jesus ascending into Heaven while the Angels sang His praise. One of the six Holy Days of Obligation in the United States.

I must confess that for many years, especially when I was young, I didn’t really understand this feast. Or what it truly meant. After all, we usually celebrated when someone or something came to us rather than when something left us. We celebrated the birth of Jesus, or the birth of Mary or one of the Saints, not their leaving us. However, as a student (and later as a teacher) I did appreciate that it often meant a four-day weekend late in the school year, the dream of any student or teacher. Every once-in-a-while the Ascension was coupled with Memorial Day giving the unbelievable five-day mini holiday. God is good!

It wasn’t until I became a priest that the true understanding of the Solemnity of the Ascension really came home to me. In the Preface of the Mass, the short interchange between the Priest and the congregation followed by a longer prayer by the Priest, there are a few interesting statements that truly made the Ascension clearer to me. The Priest prays, “Christ has gone before us, not to abandon us but to be our hope. Where He has gone, we hope to follow.” Wow! Where He has gone we hope to follow.

All of a sudden it made sense to me. It helped to answer some significant questions. “Why do we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty? Because, “Where He has gone, we hope to follow!” Why do we turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, give our shirt and our coat as well? Because, “Where He has gone, we hope to follow.” All of the sacrifices that we are asked to make, all of the good deeds that we perform, are done for this reason and this reason alone. Because, “Where He has gone, we hope to follow.”

In these days leading up to the great feast of Pentecost and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, let us pray that we may live up to our Christian calling to serve one another so that where He has gone, we may follow.

Happy Easter, again!
Father Kennedy

Saturday May 20th St. Bernardine of Siena
4:00 pm Intentions of the Presider

Sunday May 21st
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Parishioners

Monday May 22nd St. Rita of Cascia
6:30 am Fr. Chris Redcay

Tuesday May 23rd
6:30 am † Vincent Penecale

Wednesday May 24th
6:30 am † Vincent Penecale

Thursday May 25th St. Bede the Venerable, St. Gregory VII, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
6:30 am † James McDonough

Friday May 26th St. Philip Neri
6:30 am † Frank Vara

Saturday May 27th St. Augustine of Canterbury
8:00 am † William Malizia

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Bill Evans, Frank Martin, Barbara Ramsden, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Being Alone

There is nothing scarier than being alone.  In fact, it is absolutely terrifying for some people, but it is a fear we all likely have.  In an attempt to rehabilitate criminals, some correctional facilities utilize a tactic of solitary confinement: using this fear as a punishment. The idea is that the fear of being so alone will cause criminals to behave more civilly.  It is also used in interrogation processes to try and get people to tell any secrets they may be hiding.  Whether these policies actually have any benefit is a debate itself, but there is one thing we know: we hate to be alone.  The crazy thing about this fear is that we, as Christians, are never alone.

There is a wonderful movie starring Tom Hanks called “Cast Away.”  The character he plays finds himself on a deserted island after a plane crash in which he is the only survivor.  He finds himself alone with only a few items from the crash that have washed up on shore with him. One of the items is a volleyball.  While trying to start a fire he injures his hand and in frustration, picks the ball up and throws it, leaving a bloody handprint on the ball.  After retrieving the ball and seeing the bloody handprint, he draws eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the ball.   He names the ball Wilson and proceeds to start talking to the ball, running ideas by it on how to survive and about his life.  It doesn’t take long before he starts to believe that it is a real person.  He continues to have a relationship with this ball until right before he is rescued – Wilson just floats away.  This character of Wilson created by the very blood from Tom Hank’s character from inside his body allowed him never to be alone.  Wilson allowed him to stay sane and to survive. He was never alone.

 We are never alone because through our Baptism the sacred blood shed on the hill outside Jerusalem flows inside us.  Jesus is a part of our very being and dwells inside us in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit may not be with us in the same physical way that Christ was with us but dwells in our very souls.  As Christ says, “He will be with you.”  It is in our times of loneliness and distress when the Holy Spirit moves in us the most.  When we need Him, He is there.  All we need to do is talk to Him, our own inner Wilson, but this Wilson never floats away. 

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday May 13th Our Lady of Fatima
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday May 14th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday May 15th
6:30 am † Donato Buccini

Tuesday May 16th
6:30 am † Ruth McKee

Wednesday May 17th
6:30 am † Patricia Frederick

Thursday May 18th The Ascension
6:30 am † Karen Dorland
9:00 am Intentions of the Parishioners
7:00 pm † Patricia A. Frederick

Friday May 19th
6:30 am Thomas Quaresima

Saturday May 20th St. Bernardine of Siena
8:00 am † Bill and Betty Power

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Bill Evans, Frank Martin, Barbara Ramsden, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …Sandra J. Weathers & Eleanor Soboleski…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Pope Francis Gave a Relic of the True Cross to King Charles for his Coronation
By Peter Pinedo | Catholic News Agency, Washington D.C. | April 19, 2023

Thanks to a gift from Pope Francis to King Charles III, two pieces of the true cross on which Jesus was crucified will lead the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom’s coronation procession May 6.

The precious relics have been inlaid into the “Cross of Wales,” which will head Charles’ procession into Westminster Abbey, where he will be officially crowned.

Many will be watching the ceremony to witness the pomp and circumstance still found in the official functions of the British royalty. Yet, at the forefront of all that spectacle, the simple metallic cross, inlaid with relics of the wood of the true cross, testify to a lesser-known, deeply Christian aspect of the British royal tradition.

Among his many titles and symbolic responsibilities as king of England, Charles is also the supreme governor of the Church of England, which broke away from the Catholic Church in 1534 under King Henry VIII.

Given that many consider the pieces of the cross among the most precious relics in all of Christendom, the pope’s gift is being seen as an incredible ecumenical sign of goodwill.
The U.K.’s ambassador to the Holy See, Chris Trott, expressed his gratitude to the pope in a tweet, saying: “We are deeply moved and grateful to Pope Francis for this extraordinary gift. Reflecting the strength of the [Vatican-U.K.] relationship that developed over the course of the reign of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who met 5 Popes!”

Given that the relationship between the British crown and the Catholic Church has been rocky in ages past, Charles’ decision to place the papal gift at the forefront of his coronation ceremonies is significant.

The Cross of Wales is made of Welsh slate, wood, and silver. On it are inscribed the Welsh words of St. David, patron saint of Wales: “Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the little things.” At the center, arranged into a tiny cross are the precious shards of Christ’s cross.

Relics of the true cross have long been treasured by Christians around the world. According to legend, St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, miraculously discovered the cross in 326. Pieces of the cross were taken back to Rome and Constantinople. From there those pieces were further divided and dispersed to other shrines and holy sites.

There are historical references of Christians venerating the true cross throughout the centuries across Europe, the Mediterranean, and later the rest of the world.

According to historians of the Crusades, the true cross was regularly carried into battle by the armies of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem.

Today, there are relics venerated around the world all believed to be pieces of the true cross.

In Rome’s Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem there are fragments believed to be from portions of the true cross brought to the city by St. Helena. Among the relics housed in this basilica is a piece of wood known as the “Titulus Crucis” (title of the cross), on which is written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews.”

In the U.S., there are relics believed to be pieces of the true cross in California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, New York, and Ohio.

As the former Prince of Wales, Charles entrusted the pope’s gift to the Church in Wales, a branch of the Church of England.

According to an official April 19 statement by the Church in Wales, the cross will be made available for veneration to both the Anglican and Catholic churches in Wales.
Joining in the Church in Wales’ statement, Archbishop Mark O’Toole of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff and Diocese of Menevia expressed his gratitude and joy over the precious gift.

“With a sense of deep joy we embrace this cross, kindly given by King Charles, and containing a relic of the true cross, generously gifted by the Holy See. It is not only a sign of the deep Christian roots of our nation but will, I am sure, encourage us all to model our lives on the love given by our Savior, Jesus Christ. We look forward to honoring it, not only in the various celebrations that are planned but also in the dignified setting in which it will find a permanent home,” O’Toole said. 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254135/pope-francis-sent-a-relic-of-the-true-cross-for-king-charles-coronation

Saturday May 6th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday May 7th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday May 8th
6:30 am † Joseph and Maria Ippi

Tuesday May 9th
6:30 am Bill and Carolyn Petrosky

Wednesday May 10th Ss. John of Avila & Damien de Veuster
6:30 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson Families

Thursday May 11th
6:30 am † Dolores and Albert Anderson

Friday May 12th Ss. Nereus & Achilleus, St. Pancras
6:30 am † Regina Tanzillo

Saturday May 13th Our Lady of Fatima
8:00 am † Lawrence J. Tobin, Jr.

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Eleanor Soboleski, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Bill Evans, Frank Martin, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

The Call of the Good Shepherd

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday or World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We celebrate the call of the Good Shepherd to those who lovingly embrace and faithfully live out their lives in the married, single, religious, or priestly vocation. Several years ago, Pope Francis gave the Church a message to reflect on, where he links the vocation of every Christian to the unique vocation of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. All states of life are indispensable for the building up of God’s Kingdom, but today as we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, we recognize the necessity of priestly vocations for the future of the Sacramental Life of the Church and the role of priests and religious to help believers discover their own vocation and to live it faithfully. For this reason, I would like to connect three points the Holy Father made in his message to a vocation to the priesthood and religious life.

Pope Francis reminded us that, ‘Joseph’s dreams led him into experiences he would never have imagined. The first of these up-ended his betrothal, but made him the father of the Messiah; the second caused him to flee to Egypt, but saved the life of his family. After the third which foretold his return to his native land, a fourth dream made him change plans once again, bringing him to Nazareth. Amid all of these upheavals, Joseph found the courage to follow God’s will.’ God asked Joseph to let go of his own dreams and make his entire life a gift to God. In the words of Pope Francis, “May St. Joseph help everyone, especially young people who are discerning, to make God’s dreams for them come true. May he inspire in them the courage to say “yes” to the Lord who always surprises and never disappoints.”

The second aspect of Joseph’s vocation is service. He serves Mary and Jesus in God’s name. For everyone discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life, Joseph grounds their calling and desire in service. Priesthood and religious life are not about power or prestige. They are about humble service of God and His people. Such dedication requires sacrifice and commitment but comes with the reward of deep fulfillment. If one experiences fear of what he or she is being asked to give up, think instead of the joy of serving and that the Lord never leaves us lacking in anything when we respond generously to His call. Like St. Joseph, concern for others is a sign of a true vocation and is testimony of a life touched by God.

The third link between a priestly or religious vocation and the witness of St. Joseph is his fidelity. Love is persistent. It requires us to be faithful in good times and bad. Joseph is a righteous man who was faithful to everyday holiness. He is the faithful father who honors his word to his wife and what God was asking of him. In the words of Pope Francis, ‘Fidelity and trust in God is the secret of your joy.’ Let us pray that those God is calling to serve Him as priests and religious may respond with generosity, fidelity, and trust.

God, our Father, we trust in your loving kindness. Bless our Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Universal Church with many priestly and religious vocations. Give the men and women you call the light to understand your gift and the love to walk always in the footsteps of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

May God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday April 29th St. Catherine of Siena
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 30th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday May 1st St. Joseph the Worker
6:30 am † Joseph Warnalis

Tuesday May 2nd St. Athanasius
6:30 am † Patrick Herrity

Wednesday May 3rd Ss. Philip & James
6:30 am † Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Tobin, Sr.

Thursday May 4th
6:30 am † Nacci Family

Friday May 5th
6:30 am † Intentions of Luke Trombetta

Saturday May 6th
8:00 am † Gerald Gausch—37th Anniversary

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Eleanor Soboleski, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, Bill Evans, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Catherine Alexander-Lennon & Andrew Sonak…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,

              On this Third Sunday of Easter, in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter tells the crowds that they crucified Jesus. The truth, that we contributed to Jesus’ crucifixion because of our sins, is not easy to hear. However, we need not lose hope because Jesus’ unconditional love and mercy have freed us from the power of sin. Because of His resurrection, He has forgiven us, and with His life in us, we have the power to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to the new life that His death and resurrection have won for us. As the song goes, “What wondrous love is this!” It surely is wondrous, and awesome, too! Jesus will indeed “show us the path of life.”

We, like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, can read, discuss, and be enlightened by Jesus’ words in the Scriptures. As Biblical scholar Scott Hahn states, “God gave us the Scriptures not just to inform or motivate us; more than anything He wants to save us.” He continues, “God’s Word is thus saving, fatherly, and personal. Because it speaks directly to us, we must never be indifferent to its content; after all, the Word of God is at once the object, cause, and support of our faith. Because Christ is the subject of all the Scriptures, Saint Jerome insists, ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’”

Therefore, just as Jesus explained the Scriptures to the two disciples, we too need to sit and listen to Jesus as we meet Him in His Word and in the breaking of Bread. Like the disciples, we will be able to set out and exclaim to others, “Were not our hearts burning within us … as He opened the Scriptures to us?”

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday April 22nd
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 23rd
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 24th St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen
6:30 am † Patricia Frederick

Tuesday April 25th St. Mark the Evangelist
6:30 am † Nina Ferraro

Wednesday April 26th
6:30 am † Mr. & Mrs. Robert Beck

Thursday April 27th
6:30 am † Joseph Stark

Friday April 28th St. Peter Chanel; St. Louis Grignon de Montfort
6:30 am † Francis & Eileen Frankenfield

Saturday April 29th St. Catherine of Siena
8:00 am † Deceased members of the Dominican family

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Eleanor Soboleski, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Sister Eleanor Marie Conlan, IHM; Sister Jacinta Marie Potochney, IHM; Sister Marie Shaun McShane, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Savoring the Mysteries

A week ago Saturday, several of our members were received into Full Communion with the Church in the highly impressive ceremony of the Easter Vigil. They have spent the past year preparing for this moment. Following through several steps, including the Rite of Election in the Cathedral with Archbishop Perez, these aspiring Catholics drew closer and closer to the full practice of the Faith. In the Vigil Rite, they are invited to finally join us in the celebration and reception of the Eucharist. All throughout the world, men and women professed their faith and were finally joined with all their brothers and sisters.

As they go forth to live out their Christian life, they, along with each of us, are invited into a deeper relationship with the Easter Mysteries; that is, the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord. The Fifty Days of Easter make up the period of “Mystagogy,” a fancy Greek word which simply means “to savor the Mysteries.” The entire Easter Season is a time for the newly initiated and the entire community to deepen their grasp on the Paschal Mystery, through sharing in the Eucharist, meditating on the Easter Scriptures, and sharing works of charity.

Here are a few open-ended or unfinished questions that you might consider as you spend these Easter days “Savoring the Mysteries.” There are no right or wrong answers, just questions which will help us in our quest to know God better and to live at peace with one another.

What is most valuable in my life now?

How can I grow spiritually or emotionally this Easter Season?

What brings me the most joy and how am I going to get more of it?

In what way may I be of service to my brothers and sisters?

Where do I see the Mercy of God?

May the joy of the Easter Season and the Mercy of God give you peace in abundance as you savor God’s goodness to you and to all of our brothers and sisters.

Happy Easter, again!
Father Kennedy

Saturday April 15th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 16th Divine Mercy Sunday
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 17th
6:30 am † Elizabeth Currie

Tuesday April 18th
6:30 am † Patricia Frederick

Wednesday April 19th
6:30 am † James McAnulty

Thursday April 20th
6:30 am † Jen Beerley—31st Anniversary

Friday April 21st St. Anselm
6:30 am † Margaret Mary Youse

Saturday April 22nd
8:00 am † William Morris

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Eleanor Soboleski, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, Don Meyer, Janet McHenry Howarth, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Sister Jane Dolores Biddle, IHM; Sister Michael Maureen McArdle, IHM; Sister Judith Mary Stecklair, IHM;  Sister Karen Marie Corcoran, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

REJOICE!

“This is the ‘day which the Lord has made.’ Alleluia! Take fresh hope, brothers and sisters of the whole world! With Christ our Passover, everything is possible! Christ goes forward in our future!” These beautiful words of praise were spoken by Pope John Paul II in his 1991 Easter Message.  It was true then, and true now, that Our Lord Jesus Christ defeated death and rose with His Glorified body on that wondrous day.  Making His Passion even more glorious and wonderful is that we join Christ in His Resurrection. We, through Christ’s sacrifice, will also be resurrected.

On Easter, we remember what Our Lord has in store for all of us when we accept, embrace, and have faith in Our Lord and Savior.  It is easy to forget what is truly in store for our eternal future.  The things of this world are constantly working against us, making it difficult to even believe such wondrous things.  Even the apostles, in their own sorrow, forgot the teachings of their beloved Rabbi.  He told them on the third day that He would rise from the dead; yet, they struggled to understand what they were witnessing.  What a testament to our own faith that we believe and celebrate without being there on the first Easter Day.

On this Easter Sunday, we can also celebrate the fact that those who have gone before us in death will be reunited with us.  Death is no longer the end of life because through Christ, we continue to have a relationship and will be reunited with all our beloved. Knowing this, we can truly no longer fear death.  What a happy day this day is.

Let us sing with joyous voices and embrace all that we love as we enjoy the gift Christ has given us…the gift of our repaired relationship with our Creator whom we can truly now call Our Father.

May Jesus live in our Hearts forever!
Deacon Chris

Palm Sunday – April 2, 2023
Palms distributed at all the Masses
4:00 PM Vigil, 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM

Monday – April 3, 2023
Living Stations – 7:00 PM

Wednesday – April 5, 2023
Living Stations – 10:30 AM
Holy Name Society Prayer Service – 6:30 PM
Tenebrae Prayer Service – 7:00 PM

Holy Thursday – April 6, 2023
No morning Mass
Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7:00 PM
Church will remain open until 11:00 PM

Good Friday – April 7, 2023
There will be no exposition of the Eucharist in the Chapel.
Morning Prayer – 9:00 AM
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion with Holy Communion – 3:00 PM

Holy Saturday – April 8, 2023
There will be no daily Mass and confessions.
Morning Prayer – 9:00 AM
Easter Vigil – 8:00 PM

Easter Sunday – April 9, 2023
Mass – 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM
Choir Performance – 10:40 AM

Easter Monday – April 10, 2023
8:00 AM Daily Mass
There will be no exposition of the Eucharist in the Chapel.

Divine Mercy Sunday – April 16, 2023
Mass – 4:00 PM Vigil, 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM
Exposition of the Eucharist – 12:00 PM
Divine Mercy Chaplet – 2:00 PM

Click HERE to livestream the services.

Saturday April 8th Holy Saturday & Easter Vigil
8:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 9th Easter Sunday
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19 & For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 10th
8:00 am † Gino Arilotta

Tuesday April 11th
6:30 am † Daniel Mackintosh

Wednesday April 12th
6:30 am † Francis & Eileen Frankenfield

Thursday April 13th
6:30 am † Karen Dorland

Friday April 14th
6:30 am Thomas Quaresima

Saturday April 15th
8:00 am † Marge Ziegler

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, George Weatherford, Kathleen Lochner, Imelda Kormos, Kay Kenney, Howard J. Drager, Michael Boyle Sr., Eddie Quintana, Ralph Cosgrove, Anne & Mike Butera, Robert Mehlbaum, Eleanor Soboleski, Joseph Bellisari, Philip Bell, Joyce Drexler, Maria Gulach, Earl T. Bauder, John Flickinger, Bud DeLaurentis, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Three years. Jesus only had three years of His public ministry to do what He did for us on the cross. It makes me think of what else can happen in three years.  I looked around the internet and found a few things that people say can happen during that amount of time. Most UK undergraduate degrees take less than three years to complete. Once in a blue moon may refer to a rare event, but you can experience a blue moon roughly once every three years. If you can get your hands on a spacecraft, travelling to Mars only takes about six months; however, Earth and Mars are only close together roughly every two years. So to complete this journey, it would take three years. If you walk at a speed of three miles per hour for eight hours a day, it would take about three years to walk the distance around the world. One person said, “It takes an average of two years, eleven months and eight days to go from meeting someone special to getting engaged.”

Three years is not a lot of time. In fact, it is just the beginning of something. In Jesus’ life, his three years of public ministry was only a small introduction of who He is. We are still studying and praying about His life on earth thousands of years later.  So, what are some of the things Jesus did in three years that we are still coming and seeing?

Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by His creation and allowed Himself to be emptied and tempted in the wilderness.  He gathers disciples, apostles, and friends. He performs miracles, teaches with authority, forgives sinners, and challenges religious leaders to think and act differently. He tells people that God is love and that following Him is not about following a set of rules for the rule’s sake. He is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth.  He sends out His twelve apostles on their missions and instructs them how to share His gospel message. He prays. He rests. He eats and drinks with religious and sinners. He feeds the 5,000. At one point, everything is going well for Him. He has everyone’s attention. The crowds are gathering around him saying. “We believe. We believe. We believe you are the Son of God and can do anything.” Then He talks about His Body and Blood being real food and real drink.  They are confused by what He is saying, so He doubles down and says that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life. Many who said they believed turned away from Him.  After revealing this truth, Jesus continued with His ministry and raised Lazarus from the dead. The Jewish religious leaders plot to murder Him to save their own way of life and their own way of thinking. They are stuck in the mindset that “this is how we have always done it.” There is so much more that Jesus did in His three years, but His final journey to Jerusalem and His entrance into the city on the first Palm Sunday, begins today, Holy Week. 

Three years looks so small when we compare it to the age of our universe which is over 13 billion years old or to our earth which is 4.5 billion years old.  Three years is not a lot of time. Jesus doesn’t delay to save us. In fact, what we see is that He rushes to save us. Three years, one holy week, and three days in the tomb is not a lot of time in comparison to time itself, and yet these events that we remember this week changed creation forever.  Jesus coming here is just an introduction to His great love for you and me.  He wants us to know that our God isn’t here to destroy us, but He is willing to be destroyed to save us.

This week, let us pray that we slow down our lives and learn more why we call this week Holy.  Jesus has something to say to all of us, so please, even just for three minutes each day, come thirsty for His love.