Dear Friends,
ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!
Happy Easter to everyone!
We rejoice together in realizing the ultimate gift given to each of us, Jesus the Risen Christ, in the Paschal Mystery! This past week we have been in the presence of our Lord accompanying Him in the most sacred moments of His life and ours!
Holy Monday brought us together to be reconciled with our Lord and one another. Abundant mercy and love is ever before the repentant soul. To be at peace with Jesus and to take Him at the command to love one another as He has loved us is the ultimate gift.
Holy Tuesday, I was privileged to join sisters and brothers from our entire Diocese to gather at Sacred Heart Cathedral for our Chrism Mass. The blessed oils we use throughout the coming year for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick, were blessed by Bishop Matano and then given to each Diocesan Parish.
Holy Thursday was a wonderful solemn gathering to recall Jesus giving Himself in His Sacred Body and Blood (our Eucharist). Following the Mass, it was a gift to have quiet, peaceful and personal time before the Blessed Sacrament here in our parish and before other parishes whose doors were open for visitation.
Good Friday, a day of profound reflection and prayer as we contemplate the sacrifice of our brother, Jesus, giving His very life for the salvation of each and every one of us.
Saturday, Holy Saturday began with prayer, rehearsal for the Easter Vigil, a traditional blessing of baskets of Easter food and more, an Easter Egg Hunt enjoyed by not only children but adults too, and the best time of the day, our coming together for the piece de resistance of liturgies, the Mass of our Easter Vigil!!!
Oh, what a blessing and joy the Easter Vigil Mass is for all who gathered in prayer!
First of all, as we were all invited to be “Pilgrims of Hope” this Lenten/Easter, I want to start out by thanking some very special people for being open to the Holy Spirit in their lives. Let me begin in thanking Karen Luke and Deacon Eric Bessette for being present to our newest members of our faith communities. Karen and Eric had the blessings of being present to some phenomenal individuals as they explored where Jesus was calling them in their lives.
This most beautiful night, gifted us with Summer and Braiden Powell being washed in the waters of Baptism!!!! What an honor for me to be alongside them in the pool of new life! Summer and Braiden then were Confirmed alongside Huntley Hedrick! This was another moment of honor for me to Confirm each of these Catechumens and Candidate. I was so taken each time I was in their presence, particularly, when we celebrated the Scrutinys, to see in their eyes and hearts the stirring of the Lord within them. Tears.
Adding to the joys of the night, Summer, Braiden and Huntley were joined with Nicholas Pisano and Michelle Quercia to be Confirmed.
What a gift! Five wonderful children of God, sisters and brothers of Jesus and ourselves, who are witnessing to us this Easter Day what it is to be a vital “Pilgrim of Hope!” Prayerful congratulations to Summer, Braiden, Huntley, Nicholas and Michelle!!!
I do want to thank all who prepared our parishes for a fruitful and blessed Lenten/Easter season. God bless our Parish Staff, our Arts & Environment Ministries at our churches, and all the others who put their fingers on the things we may take for granted. I am very grateful to each and every one of you!
Our Easter is for 50 Days!!! It’s a bit more than the 12 Days of Christmas. Let us continue to revel in Easter Joy! There is much to always celebrate with the profound love of our Lord!
Keep in mind, ahead of us is our young people’s Confirmation and our children’s First Communion!
Thank you for your stewardship and presence to Saint Catherine of Siena and the Church of the Transfiguration! We are blessed! We are “Pilgrims of Hope!” We are fortunate to have this moment together to celebrate faith and love.
I pray you will cherish this time as I do!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia and of course,
Blessings,
Father Rob