This week is the fifth Sunday of Easter. The readings today describe the concept of renewal, of our commitment to God and to one another. Common phrases that we will see throughout the readings are: “The New Jerusalem,” “a new Heaven and a new Earth,” and “a new Commandment.” Today’s first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It beautifully describes the missionary works of Paul…
From the Pastor
From the Pastor
The second Sunday of Easter is celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. The readings for this Sunday are about God’s mercy, the necessity for trusting faith and our need for the forgiveness of sins. The opening prayer addresses the Father as “God of everlasting Mercy.” In the responsorial psalm we repeat several times, “His mercy endures forever.”…
From the Pastor
“Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but He has been raised.” The death of Jesus had shaken the faith of the apostles; everything seemed over, all their expectations had crumbled, and their hopes had died. However, in the gloom of darkness and in the midst of uncertainty, something happened that changed…
From the Pastor
Today is Palm Sunday; Jesus triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem as a victorious king. It is also known as Passion Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. This week is significant as it sees the combination of contrasting moments of suffering and glory, death and resurrection. The Church, therefore, invites us to spend…
From the Pastor
This is the fifth week of Lent. In this week’s readings, we see a powerful connection between the first and the Gospel reading. The first reading documents that God opened the sea and a path through the mighty waters, in which an entire army drowned. This, of course, is the story of the parting of…
From the Pastor
We are in the third week of the Season of Lent. The readings today speak of God’s mercy and compassion. God is good, and His mercy is always there for us, but at the same time we need to understand, accept and cooperate with Him. Saint Augustine said it beautifully: “God created us without us, but…
From the Pastor
We begin the holy season of Lent with a reflection on the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The reason this story is associated with the beginning of Lent is to remind us that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. As human, Jesus was tempted, and as divine, He defeated temptation. The incident reminds…
From the Pastor
We begin the seventh week of Ordinary Time. The readings for this Sunday describe the power of forgiveness and the choices we make. The right choices lead us to God, and the wrong choices break our relationship with Him, as they lead us away from Him. So, it is left to us to decide what…
From the Pastor
We begin the sixth week of Ordinary Time. The readings this Sunday describe that true happiness, or beatitude, is found in our awareness of who we are and what we are supposed to be. The readings remind us that we are all children of God, and that we will be happy in this world and…
From the Pastor
Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week. It was wonderful to see our school children assisting at Mass. The theme for this year was “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” The theme beautifully encompasses the core products and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the country. In Catholic schools, we not only…
