JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!
This is the reality we celebrate today; the same reality we celebrate every Sunday. For the Christian, the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection is something that never loses its joy no matter how many times we celebrate it. Of course, we cannot truly celebrate His Resurrection without remembering His suffering and death on the cross. These two seemingly different events are truly one event because you can’t have one without the other. Each time we gather for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we remember the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has become a man, and He gives His life for us by willingly suffering on the cross so that we can have eternal life. What a wonderful gift He has given us, the gift of Himself because He loves us more than we can imagine. This is the glory of Easter, and this is the joy that is given to us.
There are many times in our lives that we do not feel the joy that is ours because of the many concerns that weigh heavily on our hearts. The present situation that we are experiencing now in our world has brought great pain and suffering, worry and frustration to many people. It is not an easy time for anyone and yet there is reason to hope because that comes with loving God and knowing that He loves us. It is so important that we express our love and gratitude to God for all that He has given us and not just in the material blessings we have received, but also for the gift of life and salvation.
We express our love and gratitude by going to and participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. By going to Mass every Sunday, we not only express our gratitude and love to God, but we can also receive comfort and strength from His Word and Sacrament. Where else can we find such a fountain of love and strength?
Next Sunday is the Feast of Divine Mercy. Last week’s bulletin contained a flier concerning our celebration of this great feast of God’s mercy. Our Adoration Chapel is dedicated to Divine Mercy and so we as a parish should cultivate a deep devotion to Divine Mercy. Jesus came to us to show us the love and mercy of God. Easter is a celebration of God’s mercy because, by His rising to new life, Jesus conquers sin and death so that we can have a new life in God. As is our custom here at Sacred Heart, we will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the end of every Mass next weekend. You will also have the opportunity to venerate the image of Divine Mercy, that is, to bow or genuflect before the image that will be displayed in front of the altar next Sunday.
Also happening on April 27, will be the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. He is the first millennial to be declared a saint. He was born May 3, 1991, in London, however his parents were from Italy and soon after his birth they returned to Italy and settled in Milan. At around three to four years old Carlo express a profound interest in Jesus even though his parents did not attend Mass on a regular basis. It was his interest in the Faith that brought his parents back to Mass. After receiving his First Holy Communion Carlo went to Mass every day and prayed the Rosary each day as well. At the age of 15 he was diagnosed with leukemia and died two weeks later. He was very mature beyond his years both spiritually and intellectually. He once said that the Eucharist is his way to heaven; as it is for all of us.
I commend the Eighth Grade of our school for the beautiful presentation of the Living Stations last Friday. They did a very prayerful and reverent portrayal of the Stations of the Cross. Thank you very much for all your hard work and devotion. I am also grateful to their teachers for all their help and guidance, Christine McMillan, Jess Allen, and Maggie McCarron. May God bless you.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. The Feast of the Sacred Heart this year is on Friday, June 27. Since the Feast of the Scared occurs on a Friday we are permitted to move the celebration to the weekend because it is our patronal feast. So, we will celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the weekend of June 28 and 29 at all the Masses. Following the 5 PM Mass on Sunday, June 29, we will hold our parish picnic. The Family Life Commission and the Parish Council will be working to plan the event, but more help and ideas would be most welcome. So, if you would like to help plan this parish gathering, please call the parish office as soon as you can.
I am very grateful to all who made our celebration of Holy Week such a prayerful and meaningful celebration. May God bless all our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, ushers, altar servers, musicians, cantors, choirs, and those who so beautifully decorated the church for Easter. It was a truly prayerful and beautiful celebration of this joyful Paschal Mystery.
