This Thursday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, commemorating that day when Jesus was taken up to heaven, to the glory of his Father – 40 days after he rose from the dead and 10 days before the Feast of the Pentecost.  What is so significant or important about this feast?

Once, I was asked, “If Jesus loves us and lives forever, why did he leave?”   It’s an excellent question.  If we consider the Ascension simply in terms of Jesus leaving us, then we might wonder why He did it.  (Read more…)

On Saturday, May 11th, twenty-five of our children received their first Holy Communion.  They received Jesus Christ our Savior the first time.  There is no doubt that meeting with Jesus in First Holy Communion is an unforgettable moment, a day to be remembered as one of life’s most beautiful.  It is a day of great family celebration.

This was a special day and a happy day for their parents too.  They saw their children taking a new step in faith.  (Read more…)

Sunday, May 12th, we celebrate Mother’s Day and we honor our moms for all they do for us and for the sacrifices they make for us.  They do many ordinary things and do them extraordinarily well.  Primarily through their teaching and their example, they assist in an important way in passing down our precious faith to our children.

When we think of mothers, we only have to think of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  May is the month of Mary, and this month we honor her in a special way. (Read more…)

Next Sunday, May 12th, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On this day, the Church throughout the world in a special way encourages prayer for vocations. It also asks us to do the following:

• Make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood, and religious life.
• Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead.
• Keep our parish priests in your prayers throughout the week.

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  Pope Francis has urged us to embrace this day and truly reflect a spirit of mercy, repentance and reconciliation in our lives.  On this day, one week after Easter, we are reminded why Jesus rose from the dead: and one of the reasons was to shower the world with divine mercy.

This is what the Church has to say in part about this great feast: “During the Church’s millennium celebration in 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter be known as “Divine Mercy Sunday”.  Prior to this celebration, the Pope also wrote a profound encyclical called “Rich in Mercy”.  This encyclical explained the doctrinal and scriptural foundations for our understanding of mercy.  Our Holy Father looked to a holy woman of Poland, Sr. (Read more…)

Dear Parishioners and Guests: HAPPY EASTER! CHRIST IS RISEN!

Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends.  But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed. (Read more…)