Pilgrims of Hope: Embracing Easter, Honoring Mothers, and Celebrating Faith

05-04-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear Parishioners,

We continue to read the Easter encounters of the Risen Lord with His disciples in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus seeks them out, even when they have returned to their old ways of life and are not quite sure what to do as they proceed forward in life. Peter returns to fishing and is reminded of the first call when he encounters the Lord again… the Lord gives him the opportunity to profess his threefold love for Him in order to counter his threefold denial at the time of His suffering.

I think all of us can experience the back to the same old, same old after our 40 days in Lent. Easter is over, and it is time to get back to the way things were. Is that really what our Lent and Easter journey is about? A time for self-focus, denial, and spiritual exercise to simply go back to the way things were? Lent and Easter are about metanoia—meaning a true change of heart. Somehow, we should have a new insight or deeper understanding of God’s love and mercy for us. It is the encounter with the Risen Lord that changes our hearts because of the introspection, denial, and spiritual practices that open our hearts to Him.

May this 50 days of Easter be a time of continual enlightenment in the ways of the Lord. We have refreshed and renewed our Baptismal promises, rejected Satan, and committed to embracing the way of the Lord. May we, like Peter, express our love for the Lord in all we do in our lives.

May is a special month dedicated to Our Blessed Mother and also a month where we recognize our own mothers. Next weekend is Mother’s Day weekend. We will have the May Crowning of Mary by the First Communion Children at the 9:00 AM Mass. This beautiful tradition reminds us of Mary’s love and her desire to lead us always to the love of her Son.

We will also recognize, remember, and bless the women in our lives who have given us life at all the Masses. We are grateful for the wonderful witness mothers provide to their families and our community.

On May 12th, myself and 24 other pilgrims leave for Poland to visit the sites of Saint John Paul II, Saint Faustina, and Saint Maximilian Kolbe. It will be a special trip for us because of our connection with Divine Mercy and Saint John Paul II. We realize there were many who could not join us, so we invite you to be part of a virtual pilgrimage with us.

We will try to do daily posts and videos for you to make the journey with us. The best way to connect is by visiting our parish webpage to sign up for special Poland Pilgrimage Flocknotes. Our webpage will be the source to connect. We look forward to sharing our adventure.

Today, Sunday, we complete the nine days of mourning the passing of Pope Francis. On Wednesday, May 7th, the Cardinals of the Church will enter into the Conclave to elect a new Pope. Let us join in prayer that the Holy Spirit guide and inspire these men in discernment of the selection of the successor of Peter.

We long to hear the words, Habemus Papam – We have a Pope. We will rejoice as a people of God.

Finally, we congratulate 58 Confirmands and 51 children who received First Communion today. These two special Sacraments help them on their journey as young Catholics. They are empowered by the Holy Spirit and fed with the gift of the Eucharist – the Bread from Heaven.

We pray that these two Sacraments are sustaining and life-giving for them. A special thanks to all those who helped them prepare and for their parents and sponsors who have provided a loving witness of faith for them. Today, we celebrate God’s goodness.

Please remember to continue to embrace this special time of Easter. The environment in the Church will be a continual reminder that we are an Easter people celebrating the gift of the Risen Lord. We are Pilgrims of Hope in the Resurrection.

Peace, hope, and joy in Him,

Fr. Fred