Most of us know this parable:

"What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray." (Mt 18:12-13)

It speaks of the importance of finding what is lost. This parable is fitted neatly between two discourses on sin and its dangers and is followed by the parable of the unforgiving servant. The relationship is to the need for repentance and the joy in heaven that comes with it.

Memorial Day began under the name “Decoration Day” in 1868 — three years after the Civil War ended — and was declared a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers and otherwise honor those who died while serving in the United States military, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is one of 11 permanent federal holidays observed in the U.S.

The 10 other federal holidays observed annually are: New Year’s Day on January 1, Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday in January Washington’s Birthday, or Presidents Day, on the third Monday in February, Juneteenth on June 19, Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, on July 4, Labor Day on the first Monday in September, Indigenous Peoples Day, or Columbus Day, on the second Monday in October, Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November, Christmas on Dec. 25 Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May.

Dear Parish Family,

Joy is at the heart of the Command to Love One Another—They will know of our joy through our love.

The Resurrection accounts have been fast hitting as of late, as we move as a Church through the Easter Season, and readings that go along with it… Jesus has collectively sought to bring about more enlightenment and conversion amongst His disciples. Conversion is painful because it constantly moves us to better align ourselves with Christ. If we are not struggling, we are not growing.

Readings this week focus on the growth of the early Church and Jesus’ command to love one another. These readings highlight the importance of faith, community, and the promise of a new heaven and earth.

Paul and Barnabas are spreading the good news, which shows us the importance of sharing our faith with others. They encourage believers to remain true to the faith despite hardships. This reminds us to stay strong in our faith through difficulties.

Dear Parish Family,

Our journey continues toward Pentecost, as we move through these days of transformation and renewal. We are now at a crossroads, still celebrating these 50 Days of Easter. We must stop and ponder the Easter message that continues to burn within us, as our hearts have been set aflame stirred by the scriptures. We remain within this season of light, that brings our faith into focus and practice.

The Easter Season is an amazing time that calls to mind the accounts of Jesus appearing to His disciples in His resurrected state, and yet with each encounter, the disciples including Mary Magdalene are caught off guard at least for a moment and do not recognize Him. It is in the familiar that suddenly they realize it is their beloved Jesus the Lord.

This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday because it focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He cares for His sheep, calls them by name, and leads them to safety.

Jesus reminds us that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. This shows the close connection between Jesus and those who believe in Him.

Jesus also speaks about eternal life—living forever with God in heaven. He promises this to those who follow Him.

The Third Sunday of Easter is full of lessons for our faith. Take time to reflect on the readings and what they mean for your life. The readings call us to follow Jesus with joy, love, and dedication. They remind us to obey God, worship Jesus, and show love through our actions. They help us to grow in faith and live out our call as Christians.

The apostles show courage and trust by obeying God rather than men, even when facing suffering. Their example encourages us to put God first, no matter the challenges. This obedience shows our commitment to Him.

Dear Parish Family,

These past few weeks have been blessed as we have celebrated Holy Week, the Sacred Triduum, Divine Mercy Sunday, and now we are already at the third week of Easter. We have made a good Easter practice with each of those events. We now mourn our Holy Father Pope Francis, and we have offered him two requiem Masses while we wait for the coming conclave beginning May 7.

Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on God’s mercy and love, inviting us to trust in Him and share His forgiveness. The readings are about faith, healing, and the importance of believing in Christ’s resurrection. They show how Jesus brings peace and healing to His followers. When He appears to the disciples, He gives them the gift of peace, calming their fears. This reminds us that we can always turn to Jesus for comfort and strength.

The Gospel highlights Thomas’s doubts and his declaration of faith when he finally encounters Jesus. This teaches us to believe in Jesus even when we cannot see Him. It also encourages us to deepen our trust in Him, especially when faced with uncertainty. The readings also emphasize forgiveness. Jesus gives His apostles the authority to forgive sins, showing that mercy is a main part of His message. We are invited to seek forgiveness through the sacrament of confession and extend mercy to others. Sharing kindness and compassion helps us live out the message of this special day.

The fifty days of Easter continues, with our Second Sunday of Easter honoring the Divine Mercy.

The Divine Mercy of God is something to consider in the grand scope of the purpose of Easter and how we are called to be Easter People.

It is no coincidence that St. Pope John Paul II brought the devotion of the Divine Mercy front and center during his papacy. He was a pope who passed away within the Octave of Easter, and now we find ourselves honoring the life of our beloved Pope Francis, who also passed away during this Octave of Easter.

Pope Benedict VII died during the Octave of Christmas—could this be a lesson for us, that our faith in Christ is embodied by the joy that we live, in being the Easter People we are called to be?

The celebration of Easter is an integral part of our Christian faith; it is the highest point of what we believe as Catholic Christians. Like the discipline of Lent that has a designated period of faith development, Easter has a full fifty days for us to put into practice our faith and strive to get better and better at it on our way to Pentecost. It is here that we see that Easter is a journey that continues, leading us to the Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery is the driving force of our lives, in knowing that Jesus accomplished His mission! Easter Sunday is the exclamation point in our awareness of how the Resurrection has changed us forever, because now we no longer die, but have life within us and eternally.

Today we celebrate the high point of the Christian liturgical year. On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the faith in Jesus’ promise of redemption and eternal life to humanity. It should be a day brimming with the joy of the Risen Lord, which also begins the Easter Octave—eight days of unbroken celebration, each treated as though they are one and the same day. This period invites us into deep reflection and joy over the life-giving mysteries of Christ’s triumph over death. During this time, the faithful engage in daily Masses that resonate with Easter’s hopeful and renewing message, culminating on Divine Mercy Sunday. This special day highlights God’s endless mercy and love. This is not just a remembrance of a past event but an invitation into a more personal encounter with the Risen Christ today.

Today marks the beginning of the holiest and most sacred week of the year. Holy Week is upon us and Passion Sunday brings with it the commemoration of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, and of the bringing about the New Covenant, as the Lord begins his passion in the Garden of Gethsemane. We are called to meet Him in that place, to accompany Him as He also accompanies us. Holy Week is important to us as Catholic Christians because we enter into the mysterious and sacred at the same time, while contemplating the Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection, the Paschal Mystery and the one greatest event of all time, that brings a sinner to newness of life. Holy Week is not about what we say, or what we may think, but is about all that we do.

Palm Sunday calls us to trust God and follow Jesus with faith and obedience. As we meditate on the events of Palm Sunday, we are reminded of Jesus’ unwavering faith and obedience. Let us open our hearts to welcome Him and live according to His teachings. May we find strength and hope in His love and sacrifice and strive to follow His example every day.

Think about this: How can we glorify Jesus one day and then crucify Him on the cross later? Jesus does deserve to be glorified for the great love that He has for us. This was shown to us when He suffered and died for us on the cross on Calvary. Do you know of anyone else that would take on so much suffering and then die for you? Jesus sacrificed His own comfort, including His body and blood, to take our punishment that we deserve for our own sins. We should rejoice gratefully for this every Sunday with hosannas and admiration, for in the Eucharist we reunite ourselves with that tremendous love.

With the Third Scrutiny the Gospel tells us about the raising to life of Lazarus. This shows us that Jesus is “the Resurrection and the Life”. Jesus in His obedience to His Father has the authority to give life to whom He will. The raising of Lazarus shows us what is to take place on the last day. In this Gospel, Jesus through His obedience to the Father, has the authority to give life to whom He will. This reading is a dramatic demonstration of the truth already declared in John 5.21 (“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.”) which is the best way anyone can comment on this story.

After Jesus said let who is without sin cast the first stone, they threw down their stones, and asked the woman, who condemns you now, she said no one, and neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more! Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery should resonate well to the sinner because they are words of hope, and encouragement to not stay in the rut of sin, but to get up out of the rut, and wipe the tears from our own eyes and believe the forgiveness of Jesus then act on it! Why would anyone in their right mind choose to stay in the rut of sin, it’s miserable in the rut! Are we called to be miserable, absolutely not, we are called to be repentful and joyful, but yet some may become accustomed to misery! Imagine that? Some are so used to their self-destructive mindset, that keeps them habitually shackled to negativity, complaining, anger, vengeance, and revile, that they cannot escape it, and it eventually becomes embedded sin consuming their soul. Not one of us is without sin, with the most insidious not necessarily blatant adultery, prostitution, or dishonest tax collecting, but just as grave and divisive, are being judgmental, lacking compassion, excluding people, lacking charity, bearing false witness, or coveting and being envious of others.