When I’m standing up there at the altar, I sometimes wish I could take a time-out and explain what I am doing or why I am doing it, because so much of what we do has long forgotten origins.

One example would be kissing or “reverencing” the altar. I’m kissing the “altar” which has crosses cut into its corners and a silver dollar sized circle that covers a few bone splinters taken from the catacombs of Rome, a reminder of our ancient roots and the blood of the martyrs. (Read more…)

On Wednesday, May 11th, thirty-one young people of our Parish Family celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was an uplifting celebration not only for the Confirmandi and their families but also for us who received this sacrament many years ago.

A special thank you to Bishop Emeritus Bootkoski for presiding at the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Also a special thanks to Mrs. Sandra Kopka for facilitating the Confirmation program. I am very grateful for her work and selfless efforts to prepare these young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation over a series of weeks. (Read more…)

On Saturday, May 7th, fourteen of our children received their first Holy Communion. They received Jesus Christ our Savior for 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.  It is through their parents, more than anyone else that these children have come to know about God.  And it is on their parents that they will continue to depend for many years yet, to help them grow in their response to God’s love in their lives. (Read more…)

Next Sunday, May 8th, 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 their 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…)

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. (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 it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.

Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final.  That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. (Read more…)