“You must know that God is offering His salvation to all the world.”
— Acts 28: 28
On Easter Monday, after making a visit to a funeral home and hospital, I waited at a stop sign only to take notice of the license plate on a car in front of me which read GOD’S JOY. That plate seemed to encapsulate the entire message of Easter.
God’s Joy — The octave of Easter is eight days which St. Augustine refers to as "days of mercy and pardon.”
God’s Joy — On Palm Sunday evening, the youth of our parish presented a memorable, meaningful, musical and prayerful experience of the Living Stations.
God’s Joy — Overflowing crowds for the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday Mass — 248; Good Friday Service — 248; Easter Sunday Masses: Vigil — 310; 8:00 AM — 300; 10:00 AM — 546; 12:00 Noon — 486
God’s Joy — Through the spirit of the Anthony Volante Feed the Hungry Fund, 60 families were given an Easter meal. The vital health of a community depends on sharing.
God’s Joy — A pastor’s message and Easter flowers brought light to 96 shut-ins of the parish.
God’s Joy — The donations for Easter flowers in honor/memory of loved ones.
God’s Joy — Families placing flowers at the cemetery.
God’s Joy — Assistance during Holy Week from two brother priests — Fr. Gerry Rogala, Archdiocese of Chicago and Fr. Joe Calderone, OSA, from Philadelphia.
God’s Joy — The 6 people who were baptized and total of 9 people received into communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.
God’s Joy — A blessing given to a couple on Easter for their 56th year of marriage. This call to union and communion at every level, physical spiritual and psychological demands a continuous growth in unselfish love as a way of holiness.
God’s Joy — The Fish Fry crew who kept alive the tradition of service to our brothers and sisters. Great food, teamwork, faith sharing and fun.
God’s Joy — Those in ministry who worked to ready God’s House for worship through liturgy, cleaning, decorating and preparing the baptistery to make our Easter festivities so beautiful. A blare of trumpets to the Lord!
God’s Joy — It was inspiring to see many experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation where God’s mercy abounds and Easter joy continues!
God’s Joy — USA Today front cover story on Good Friday entitled "'Reverts' return to their childhood religions." Whether Catholic, Methodist or Jewish, a call to return to their childhood religions.
God’s Joy — Mother Judith, Superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor on Holy Saturday who went room to room to visit each resident with the sweetness of a smile, candy and blessing. Mom dressed in her peach Easter outfit.
God’s Joy — A lady who regularly attends yard sales, flea markets and estate sales mailed me a book entitled First Easter: The True and Unfamiliar Story by Paul Maier — Easter changes everything.
God’s Joy — A third grade student said “Father, I’m ready to be an altar server now.”
God’s Joy — The Holy Thursday Chrism Mass at St. Paul Cathedral. Bishop Zubik mounted the pulpit to speak, noting the privilege it is to stand at this pulpit or any pulpit. Bishop Zubik noted in his first year of the seminary in the Fall of 1967 he brought a tray of shrimp cocktail to the room of Bishop John Cardinal Wright. He was asked by Bishop Wright, “why are you here and what piece of advice would you give to be a good seminarian/priest, because to follow Jesus and to serve His Church is serious business.” Young seminarian David had many misconceptions of what was necessary to become a priest. Did you need a perfect family? Did you need to be an artisan wordsmith? Did you need to have extraordinary talents and skills? Much to his surprise Bishop Wright remarked that a good priest must smile. People must see on your face that the love of Jesus is real. Blessed Pope John Paul II often wrote about priests as a man of communion. Bishop Zubik spoke about the four areas in a priest’s life that bring joy.
1) Communion with God — know and practice dropping to our knees what God says, why God says and how God says.
2) Communion with the church — the two important words of the Gospel according to the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen were “come” and “go.” Be a living sign of the saving presence of Jesus Christ. Be confident and courageous in a world and culture that wants to silence God.
3) Communion with God’s people — Christ’s Body — the faithful of the Church. Christ gives His love to us and the more we fall in love with God, the more meaningful the sacraments will become in sharing with God’s people — Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Priesthood. Through the sacramental life, God’s love and grace guides us to heaven.
4) Communion with one’s self — Bishop Zubik noted that the life of the priest is not getting any lighter or easier. There are many demands and burdens where one can easily risk the danger of burnout. He pleaded with his priests to have good self-care, to pray regularly, offer the Mass devoutly, seek Mary’s intercession to be a holy priest, pray the breviary as if it’s your bride, have good friends, take a day off, make a retreat, heal the divisions among us. Never take this call for granted, or be too tired to serve others joyfully, and never forget to smile. The Bishop personally greeted each priest, presenting us with a book Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Fr. Robert Barron, a vestment garment bag and a delicious meal.
Go Pens!
