SIGN OF PEACE RESUMES AT MASS and EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
A recent update from the Archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship notified all parishes that the invitation to offer the sign of peace during the Communion Rite of the Mass may resume. It is another important moment in the Eucharistic celebration and I would like to offer some information about it as we resume its practice. It is intended to be a liturgical action when we offer the peace that Jesus offers us all. It is not the moment for us to say “hello” to friends and neighbors; we do that [...]
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year C)
John 10:27 - 30 This Sunday, we hear a portion of the beautiful, symbolic presentation of Jesus known as the Good Shepherd. Of course, we do not hear Jesus refer to himself in these terms this Sunday; that happens earlier (cf. 10:14). The verses we hear on Sunday are part of his discourse against the Pharisees. The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends John 9. We will recall the account of the man born blind whom Jesus cured. In this account, we see [...]
CONGRATULATIONS FIRST COMMUNION CLASS and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
CONGRATULATIONS FIRST COMMUNION CLASS! Last weekend and this weekend, (at the 5:00pm and 9:30am Masses), 86 of our young parishioners received our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time! This is a very important event in their faith lives as they now join with the rest of the believing community in participating fully in the Celebration of the Eucharist. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains so well: The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and [...]
THE MONTH OF MARY and ALTAR SERVERS
THE MONTH OF MARY It's hard to believe that it’s already May, but here it is! As you surely know, this month is traditionally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. As Pope Paul VI expressed so well in his encyclical entitled the Month of May, this is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [...]
EASTER GREETINGS
Alleluia! Our Lord is risen and offers us new life! We certainly need to hear this message this year as we finally emerge from the coronavirus pandemic but now find ourselves watching in horror the carnage and destruction resulting from the war in Ukraine. The Paschal mystery proclaims that Jesus, truly man - the son of Mary - really died on the cross and then overcame the power of death as he rose on Easter. The resurrection of the body, the central mystery of Easter, is an essential Christian doctrine. As the [...]
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION AND HOLY WEEK
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Lk 19:38). On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he comes to offer a new way of life and claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God. This week is, indeed, what we Christians call it: Holy [...]