Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Easter! Happy Day of Resurrection!!
Rejoice in the Lord Who fulfills His promises and Whose love is overflowing even conquering death! I pray Lent was a grace filled time for you and that you made time to enter into the holy time of this past week. Now we begin to celebrate in a new way for now we focus on how the Lord is risen, not just was risen, but IS risen and continues to share with us the new life of God’s grace. How great it is that Lent is six weeks long, but the Easter Season is seven weeks long! For the Lord, love overflows; it cannot be contained! Are we living that reality? Hopefully the Lenten season prepared us to be more open to how God calls us to live now. What lessons have we learned this Lent? What practices of of holiness should I keep doing so that I can continue to grow in God’s grace? These are the questions we should bring to the Lord as we thank Him for His continued blessings and challenges! Yes even challenges. When the Lord rose He did not just say “okay, everyone back to normal.” He continued to teach and guide and challenge His followers to live as true disciples and proclaim the Good News. We too want to try to be disciples and fulfill our mission. But do not forget, Easter does not end today, it is merely beginning! The Octave of Easter will continue through next Sunday and then another six weeks afterwards we will continue to celebrate the joy of Easter until the solemnity of Pentecost.

Divine Mercy Novena
The Divine Mercy Devotion is very powerful and at this time of year it is fitting to pray the Novena attached to it. It begins on Good Friday (4/15). I will lead people in the Divine Mercy chaplet following the Good Friday Service. The Chaplet will begin at 4:30pm. We will pray the chaplet after the daily Masses of Easter week. The novena ends on Divine Mercy Sunday (4/24). We will be praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet after each of the Sunday Masses as part of our time of Eucharistic Adoration. Also, you can follow from home on the intervening days on our Facebook page. Please join us for this great devotion.

Faith Formation Nights to Return in May
It has been a while, but Faith Formation Sessions are returning. We used to have them on Sunday mornings, but with our current Mass schedule that will not work. Some comments have come saying they would prefer sessions not on Sunday anyway. So, we are going to try the first and third Mondays of the month from 6- 7pm. Our men’s and women’s groups meet on the second and fourth Mondays, so this will complement that schedule. The session will be in the church and include at least some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. When we get closer more details will be published, but in the meantime please feel free to contact the rectory to recommend any appropriate topics.

My friends, please know that I am thankful to God for being here at St. Paul's. I thank you for your prayers and support this past year. Our patron preached the truth of Christ crucified and risen. My goal is to do the same with you and for you. May we rejoice together in Christ's victory and be spurred on to share this Good News with all!
May God bless you all, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Happy Easter!
In Christ,
Fr. Pfr.