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 be try disciples and fulfill our mission.  Happy Easter!
 
Regina Caeli
As we move into the Easter Season, our practice of singing a Marian hymn will continue, but it changes today!  We will sing the “Regina Caeli.”  It is in the Pew Missal and the music ministry will guide us through learning this beautiful Easter song honoring the Mother of God who is so much a part of Christ’s mission.  It is not a difficult hymn so we will pick it up quickly.  We will sing it after all Masses throughout the Easter Season. 
 
 
Parish Council Nominations
Regarding our Parish Mission, which everyone should know by now (if not check the front cover of the bulletin), our Parish Council term will be ending in June and there are people rotating off the Council.  This is to give them a break and so other people have a chance to share their gifts in this regard. The Parish Council is a consultative body which aids the pastor in being a steward of the mission of the parish.  They aid him by being extra channels of communication with the wider parish community.  The requirements are: a practicing Catholic in good standing, a St. Paul Parishioner for at least a year, 18 years of age, able to commit to 9-10 monthly meetings for a 3 year term, and being available to listen to parishioners after Mass about once a month.  You may nominate yourself or another.  There are nomination forms in the Narthex.  If you have questions about the process please call the rectory, but we need the nomination forms in by April 29. 
 
Divine Mercy Sundaes on Divine Mercy Sunday
Yes you read it right.  After the 11am Sunday Mass next week, some volunteers will be making available ice cream sundaes in honor of the Divine Mercy Devotion.  The Novena of which ends next Sunday.  Come and celebrate this Easter Season which shows God’s infinite Divine Mercy. 
 
Also if you want to participate at a Divine Mercy Prayer Service, there will be one held at Nativity Parish at 2:30pm.  So enjoy the ice cream here and then I hope to see you at Nativity giving thanks to God for the Mercy He shows us in Christ.
 
Happy Easter!
In Christ,
Fr. Pfr