Pastor’s Letter: April 7 , 2024

Pastor’s Letter: April 7 , 2024

5 Apr 2024 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear friend,

Happy Easter! As we conclude the Octave of Easter and continue our celebration of the Easter Season, I am overjoyed by our parish celebration of the Lenten and Easter feasts. Each year it seems to pass so quickly but each year brings a new experience of the Paschal Mystery, the Life, Death and Resurrection. As a liturgical people, Catholics repeat the high feasts, year after year, as a means of deepening our understanding and allowing God to consistently move us in the right direction. We officially had 20 new members join our parish community at the Easter Vigil. To accompany these individuals on their spiritual journey is one of the great joys of my priesthood. The Church is constantly talking about the importance of evangelizing the culture. This is something in which we each have a role. I certainly would not be a priest if I did not believe in the truth of the Bible and our Church Tradition, guided by the Holy Spirit. The process of walking with new individuals as they discover a personal relationship with Jesus and the truth of the Sacraments is a very humbling experience. At our last class on Tuesday, our new members had the opportunity to personally express aspects of their journey. Part of me wishes that the whole parish could hear the profound expressions of gratitude, wonder, forgiveness, acceptance and belonging. These dialogues are rightly ordered to be shared with in the small group of the class, but please know our parish community had a great effect on these 20 new members. Many of them reflected not only on the discovery of truth but also on the genuine expression of love of humanity at our parish. Year after year, this is consistently one of our great strengths as a community. We each keep the community growing by generosity, friendship, embracing truth and a true welcoming presence at church liturgy. Special thank you to our community for the welcoming culture at St. Philomena and heartfelt congratulations to all the new Catholics at St. Philomena and throughout the world.

This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday. This Feast originated after Jesus began appearing to a Polish Sister in the 1900s asking that the Church honor His Mercy and Love for souls. In the messages to St. Faustina, Jesus calls the faithful to pray specific prayers, known as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, go to confession, attend Mass, and perform personal works of mercy. St. Philomena will once again host a Divine Mercy Holy Hour from 3 to 4 pm on Sunday April 7. We will have Adoration and Benediction along with recitation of the Chaplet, Confessions, and time for quiet reflection. Please join us for an hour of prayer with our Lord this Sunday afternoon.

I hope all of our school families had a nice week of rest over our spring break. As we come back to school, we begin the final stretch of the school year. We will soon celebrate Confirmation for the 8^th graders, First Communion for the 2^nd Graders, complete many school projects and graduate another class. Please continue to pray for the spiritual and intellectual growth of all our St. Philomena Tigers!

God bless,

Father David