Lord Send Forth Your Spirit and Renew the Face of the Earth!

For over two thousand years, the Church has been an ever-present fixture in the world, offering hope and faith, and embodying the bold zeal of the Holy Spirit's gift. The Primitive Church laid this foundation, which is also remarkably the work of the Holy Spirit.

The grand narrative of the Easter story keeps unfolding. We have been delving deep into the richness of John’s Gospel. I hope you have been paying attention. We have learned that John’s Gospel is much different than the other Gospels in that the message goes straight to the heart of the matter. The Gospel of John is divided into three significant components that reveal the deepest aspects of the Paschal Mystery.

Dear Parish Family,

It is with renewed spirit and heart that I return to the parish, vibrant and ready to continue in the mission work of the Church. Serving on assignment for the Maritime Diocese is rewarding because a priest never hangs his priestly hat, but finds ways to renew it. Witnessing the greater church in the world at work is always an invigorating inspiration for me. I am most grateful to the parishioners who joined me on this journey, assisting me in the ministry at sea and making it fruitful as we served a few hundred Catholics at sea, who comprised passengers and crew.

Today’s Gospel speaks of our Shepherd, Jesus, and what he offers us. We are called first to recognize him and then to receive his gifts of saving love. Let’s look at both parts. Recognize Your Shepherd: Jesus says, “The shepherd of the sheep … calls his own sheep by name and leads them out … and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” So the question for us is this: “Are you smarter than a sheep?” Sheep have the remarkable ability to know their master’s voice and instinctively flee from others. Now that’s pretty smart! Sheep may not know how to go to the moon and back, but they do know their master’s voice.

Amidst all of the post-resurrection accounts, we cannot help but understand that Jesus is out to make a point, appearing behind locked doors, telling St. Thomas the Apostle to place his fingers inside his wounds. I can imagine, though it was not stated, Jesus telling St. Thomas, While you’re at it, go deep enough inside so you may touch my heart. After all, Jesus, who had been telling his Apostles everything all along, told Peter he could walk on water, it was best to cast the net on the other side of the boat, and even asking them “will you be my disciple” Wow and yet as humanness goes they still struggled to see him or even recognize him as they once did.

On Sunday, April 30, 2000, in celebration of the New Millennium, St. John Paul II canonized Bl. Faustina is a saint of mercy for the world. He also established by proclamation the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday. St. John Paul II lived his priesthood in hope of The Divine Mercy, well before he became Pope, and dedicated his papacy to the Divine Mercy as well. Much of his love of the mercy of God was inspired by the belief found in the heart of Jesus, with which the suffrage of humanity at the hands of Nazi control over Poland could find divine relief. St. John Paul II lived the mercy of God as a remedy because he knew first-hand what the evils of communism and oppression could do.

Dear Parish Family,

We have arrived once again in the holy season of Easter. We have not just one day, but 50 days of Easter to celebrate. How important it is to remember that we have these days to commemorate the heights of the liturgical year. We do so with the greatest of reverence, hope, love, and joy knowing that Jesus is triumphant over the grave! Eastertime brings out the joy of the Lord in our hearts, as we contemplate the profound meaning of the Resurrection, and our desire to seek only the things of heaven.