Dear Parishioners,

First of all I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter!!! Thanks to everyone who helped with Music, Liturgical Ministries, RCIA and the Vigil Reception. I also extend gratitude to those who worked so hard to beautifully decorate our church. Everything was as beautiful as the weather.

We have made our transition to “ad orientem” and everyone seems to be adjusting very well. It is certainly much easier for me to concentrate on the prayers with just the tabernacle and crucifix in my sight range. I thank all of you for your willingness to learn and desire to improve our liturgies as we seek holiness. I also thank the new members of our Divine Mercies Cenacle for organizing a beautiful Divine Mercy Sunday Devotion.

Now comes the beautiful month of May. It is the month of Mary. We will be having a May Crowning at the Grotto between the 9am and 11am Masses on May 5th. We dedicate this month to Mary because she, like the warmer spring weather, brings forth new life for the world in her son, just as we see new life all around us as the grass turns green again and the trees grow their leaves back out etc. All of the spring flowers begin to bloom. It is truly a time of joy and hope and that is what Mary brings us through her amazing fidelity, courage, and perseverance. As we go through the Saturdays of May, we reflect on these amazing virtues of Mary and seek to incorporate them into our own lives. Imitation is the sincerest form of devotion. Mary was the human being closest to Our Lord Jesus Christ, and we see in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of John the power of her intercession with him. This is another reason we honor her, and Jesus gave her to us from the cross— John 19:25-28—so she is our mother too. That is why we celebrate Mother’s Day in May.