Dear Parishioners and Easter visitors,

He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia. The word Alleluia translates to “praise God” and indeed we praise God on Easter Sunday morning for His Son has Risen. He has conquered sin and death. It is a day of great celebration for Christians because this real human event has changed the course of history and we have a Savior. The world has a savior.

I love seeing the crowds at Easter – it reveals to me that deep seed that God has planted in the soul of every human being to long for Him. To long for a Savior and His message of forgiveness and love. All too often life gets busy with family, work and other things. Easter is a time to remember… and renew our faith. The beauty is that we can do that every week in the “Easter” we celebrate at every Mass. I know for myself it keeps me focused and centered in a crazy world. Our time together every Sunday giving thanks to God and receiving His bountiful graces is invaluable. Imagine, it is free, there is no cost to go to Mass other than our t ime and attention. All we have to do is arrive with a humble and open heart. God’s plan for salvation includes us and we participate in that plan fully when we participate in the Mass. He is Risen and saves us!

Easter is more than a day but a season and ultimately we celebrate every Sunday of the year – Jesus Christ risen from the dead. The season is 50 days long and last until the Feast of Pentecost on May 19th. Seven weeks remind us of the seven days of creation, God’s goodness. Seven is seen as a perfect number, so multiply it by the perfect number seven and add one for God’s abundant overflowing love and it equals fifty. How beautiful and rich is our faith in the Risen Lord. The gift of our liturgical year and these 50 days help us to enter more fully into the Paschal mystery.

Over these next 50 days of Easter I encourage you to embrace it like Lent – to take it seriously and be open to God’s mercy and love in your daily lives. Find the Risen Lord by asking the Holy Spirit to help you be attentive to His truth, beauty and goodness that surrounds us always.

Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a day we focus on the mercy of God and His love that pours forth from the side of Jesus. The word mercy in Latin is misericordia – which comes from two words. Misereri meaning to have pity on or compassion for and cor, meaning heart. So Mercy truly means having a heart for one in misery, one who is hurting or in need. So we can be assured that God has a heart for His people and it is shown in the saving action of his Son. God has a heart for us! There is a special devotion and Mass at 3pm and all are welcome to join – please see more about this in the bulletin.

We will have a special event for families next week with an Easter Adventure and Egg Hunt. This will be after the 9:00 am Mass and will include different places for the children to visit including the empty tomb. It is a wonderful way to experience the faith as a family and a community. There is more information in the bulletin about this special way to continue the Easter celebration and rejoice in His saving love.

Fr. Ryan and I are filled with gratitude to God for the special journey of Lent, the Consecration of the parish to the Holy Eucharist and for the next fifty days of entering into the mystery of God’s love revealed during this Easter Season. Journeying with all of you as a people of God gives us strength and hope. Easter Blessings and always remember He is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Easter peace and joy in the Risen Lord,

Fr. Fred

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