FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Father’s Two Cents Worth:

HAPPY EASTER!    Christ the Lord is ris’n today;

                                              Christians, haste your vows to pay;

                                    Offer you your praises meet

                                  At the Paschal Victim’s feet.

                                            For the sheep the Lamb has bled,

                                   Sinless in the Sinner’s stead;

                                         Christ the Lord, is ris’n on high,

                                     Now he lives no more to die!

Words from one of our Easter hymns, I hope that we can all say that is what has happened over this past Lent for ourselves.  True, Lent is over for 2010, but the challenge to continue to grow in awareness and presence of God in our lives is an ongoing task.  Each one of us must look back over the past 40 days and see where we have succeeded, and where we have failed, what we have to offer to God, and what we have kept.  Easter is the time for new life, united with Christ in a new and better commitment that will lead us to Eternal life.  Christ has died for us, and has risen on high.  May this Easter fill us with the joy of having risen with Him, and becoming more like Him in our daily lives.

Thanks to all who made the special effort to come to Lenten Services, to Holy Week Services, and special efforts to grow in our knowledge and love of God!  May your efforts be well rewarded with peace and serenity!

Since this is the first full week of April, and one fourth of this year is past, it is also time for our quarterly Mass of the Anointing of the Sick.  This will take place this coming Saturday, at 9:00 A.M.  Again, we invite all who have reached an age of 65 or more to come to be anointed for the sake of healing, and the blessings associated with this sacrament.  All those who have serious illness, those in remission, and those in healing, are encouraged to receive this Sacrament.  It is a sacrament of healing!

Thanks to all who have made commitments to support the Catholic Services and Mission Appeal of our diocese!  We are well over half way to our goal!  We hope that all of our parishioner will participate in this program of meeting the needs of our diocesan family.  Catholic Services and Mission Appeal provides the hands and faces that make available the blessings of God to all the members of our diocese, and others in need.  Join us!

I want to thank the men who came to the church on Monday to repair the kneelers on the pews.  This was no “youngster” crew, with most if not all being retired men, and getting down on the floor between the pews no easy job.  The whole parish owes them a debt of gratitude.  We can show our appreciation in how we treat these kneelers not merely as foot-rests, but as kneelers we want to be there when we need them.  Thanks Guys!

Holy Childhood Divine Mercy Novena

Our parish devotion to the Divine Mercy begins on Friday at 7 PM prior to Good Friday services. Each night for 8 consecutive nights we will say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 7 PM. On the Sunday after Easter, April 11th, known as Divine Mercy Sunday, we will complete the novena with the chaplet and benediction at 3 PM. Jesus requested the Sunday after Easter be officially established as the Feast of Mercy. “On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My Mercy.” Souls receive complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

Conditions for obtaining His promise are reception of Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, be free from serious sin, receive the sacrament of Penance near Mercy Sunday, pray for the intentions of the Pope, and perform works of mercy.