Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
John 15:1 - 8 Last Sunday, we heard Jesus speak of himself as the Good Shepherd. He used that image against the Jewish leaders, whom he, by inference, characterized as bad shepherds, mere hirelings who are in it for themselves. He, on the other hand, was the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for his sheep.” This is the only occasion in the Gospel of John where Jesus uses a human image as an analogy for himself. This Sunday, we hear Jesus speak of himself in one [...]
CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AT OUR SCHOOL
Change is in the air as winter reluctantly gives way to spring. Change is also in the air at our school as we reluctantly prepare to say farewell to Sr. Mary Elizabeth Karalis, SSJ, our Director of Religious Education and Mrs. Adria Crowley, our school principal. After serving so well as our Director of Religious Education and spiritual director for a number of our parishioners over the past 11 years, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Karalis, SSJ, has decided to retire. Sister has been a strong presence both in our parish and [...]
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Ordinarily during the Easter Season, I offer reflections on the Gospel first since the other two readings present the early Church after the Resurrection. This week, however, I would like to begin with some reflections on the first reading since it includes an important Old Testament reference to Jesus and his mission among us. Acts 4:8 - 12 This Sunday, we hear another portion of Peter’s speeches after curing the crippled man. Last week, we heard a section of his speech to the Jewish people who had gathered [...]
St. Martin de Porres Parish Visit
We’re happy to have Fr. Addisalem Mekonnen, the pastor of our sister parish, St. Martin de Porres, join us at all of our Masses next weekend and present the homily as we continue our 42-year tradition of sharing our faith with our sister parish. And, as they have done for many years, members of St. Martin de Porres parish will lead us in song at the 5:00pm Vigil Mass. This year, their men’s choir, God’s Men, will be here to lead us in lively song! We will then host them [...]
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, I confirmed three new adult parishioners with the imposition of hands and the anointing of the forehead. Last Saturday, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez confirmed 77 of our young parishioners who attend our school or PREP. And, that same evening, I confirmed another new adult parishioner who was unable to join us at the Easter Vigil. This completed the initiation of all of these parishioners into the Church, which began at Baptism and was nurtured [...]
EASTER GREETINGS
Alleluia! This Easter proclamation that we repeat over and over again during the joyful Easter Season has a powerful meaning, one that we should all know and embrace. It is a combination of two Hebrew words: “hallelu” (the plural imperative of “hallel”) which means “praise” and “jah,” the first half of the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh. So, it literally means “everyone praise God!” We should praise God always because of all the good he does for us every moment of our lives. But Easter is the time for us [...]