My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Congratulations to all our second graders at Mary Our Queen who will be celebrating their First Communion this weekend.  We are also looking forward to celebrating with our second graders at St John Vianney who will be celebrating their First Communion next weekend.  Thank you to all our Five Day School Teachers and our Religious Education team who have prepared our second graders to receive their First Communion.  Please keep our First Communicants and their families in your prayers.

 

Congratulations to Dane Madsen, Abi Jo Smith, Lynn Nepple, Zoey Jacoby, Jane Chase, Sean Williams, Jenny Russell, Sharon Pelep, Nathan Tupper, Harry Koll and Tatum Phelps who received the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.  Congratulations also to Peyton Phelps and Breckyn Phelps who were baptized at the Easter Vigil.  Thank you also to our RCIA team who have been preparing all our candidates for the sacraments since September of last year.  We started our combined Family of Parishes RCIA program 3 years ago and I am grateful for all they have done.

 

Once again I would like to thank all who made the Easter celebrations a Blessed occasion especially those behind the scenes who decorated our Church, our sacristans who prepared for the liturgical celebrations, our servers, lectors, choirs, musicians, ushers, staff and other volunteers.  We could not have done it without you.  This is the third time our Family of Parishes came to celebrate the Easter Vigil together.  It was a beautiful liturgy, and it was wonderful to have a full Church at the Easter Vigil.

 

Thank you also to all who helped clean the baptismal font at St John Vianney.  It took 3 days of elbow grease to remove most of the calcium buildup (since the font was installed) around the font.  Unfortunately, we could not get it all out.  We will once again drain out the font and will attempt to clean out the remaining calcium deposits once the water softener is installed.

 

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday.  Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which concludes the octave of Easter.  Divine Mercy Sunday is based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy that was drawn from the writings of Sr. Faustina Kowalska.  Sr. Faustina was a polish nun who reported the visions of Jesus and conversations with Him.  Through His invitation Sr. Faustina painted the vision of Jesus and His merciful divinity that is being poured from His Sacred Heart.  It was asked that this feast be celebrated the Sunday after Easter so that all would take refuge in Jesus.

 

In the Gospel reading, we hear how Jesus invited Thomas to no longer doubt but believe after appearing to His disciples.  That invitation speaks of the humility of Jesus that wants to draw all of us to Himself.  God invites us to walk be faith and not by sight knowing how He comes to our lives which is why He says the words “Peace be with you”.

 

Blessings,

Fr Marc