We have received with sorrow the news of the death of Pope Francis. We offer prayers that he will know the beauty of eternal life, and we pray also for the Church. As we prepare for a conclave, may God guide us in the way of Christ and help us to ever better share the Good News of the Risen Christ with others.
Next weekend we will have a presentation about the history and process of papal conclaves, along with some biographies and interesting facts about well-known cardinals who are considered likely candidates for the papacy. Don Clemmer, who has worked for the US Bishop’s Conference and written for various Catholic magazines, will give the presentation here in the church at 6:30 on Saturday evening next weekend. Join us for a very interesting evening.
We look back with excitement and joy to our Holy Week liturgies. Crowds were bigger this year than in the past, the music was wonderful, and we are thrilled by the number of baptisms. We continue singing our Easter Alleluias along with all of creation. Jesus has conquered sin and death. There is no greater news.
I offer thanks to our musicians, our church decorators, our maintenance crew, our catechists, and our liturgical ministers for all of the work involved in preparing for our solemn liturgies. I offer thanks to Fr. James and Fr. Bobby. Priests spend long hours during Lent hearing confessions in our parish as well as schools and parishes around town. We are also very grateful to Sam Martinez and Noah Isch, our parish seminarians, for all of their work in organizing liturgies and helping the servers. Sam and Noah will both be ordained deacons on May 24.
One more note of thanks: a huge thank you is due to all who contributed to our Lenten almsgiving project. As I am writing this column we have received over $30,000 to help build wells in Africa. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of this parish. When I reported this to the representative at Cross Catholic Outreach, her response was: “That is AMAZING!!!! What a wonderful blessing this will be!”
This Sunday is known as Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a time to remember that the love and mercy of God has brought us here. God loves us despite our sin and is eager to wipe away that sin. We will offer prayers for the Holy Father at Masses this weekend. For those who receive Communion at Mass without attachment to sin and take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 20 days, a plenary indulgence is offered on Mercy Sunday.
Our First Communion Mass will be next Sunday, May 4, at 1:00. Please pray for our youngsters who will receive the Lord for the first time in Holy Communion.
Summit Awakening, a group for Catholics aged 18-25, will hold a weekend retreat in Auburn on May 30-June 1. For more information, Google their website or watch the bulletin.
