News - April 2025 RSS Feed

We continue our readings from the Acts of the Apostles, with yet another chapter in the heroic transformation of Jesus’s chosen ones. Here, they are brought before Jewish authorities and assert, “We must obey God rather than men.” The account tells us, “they left … rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” Psalm 30 sings the glory of God:” give thanks to his holy name.” St. John’s excerpt from his Revelation soars with celestial visions: “the voices of many angels … and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number and they cried out … ‘Worthy is the Lamb.’” John’s Gospel gives us the complete story of Christ’s appearance on the lake shore, bidding the seven apostles who have gone back to their fishing, to “Come, have breakfast.” Last, we hear Our Lord seeming to absolve St. Peter of his thrice denial. “Feed my sheep.”

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins at 1:00 PM. Confessions will be available, as well as recitation of the Rosary, silent prayer, Benediction, and ending with recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM.

The first reading from Acts of the Apostles documents the growth of the infant Church, and the power of the apostles, now evangelizing and performing great works. “They even carried the sick out into the streets … so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.” The Psalm is pure Easter joy: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.” We catch a glimpse of God’s splendid supernatural kingdom in the reading from Revelation: “I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.” St. John’s Gospel relates the story of doubting Thomas.

The Second Sunday of Easter also is Divine Mercy Sunday. This devotion was revealed by Our Lord Jesus Christ to Polish Mercy Sister Faustina Kowalska, now a saint, in visitations during the 1930s. Here are the words of Jesus to Saint Faustina: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.” We recall the familiar Divine Mercy image of Jesus with white and red rays representing blood and water radiating from His sacred heart. A Divine Mercy portrait hung in the Cathedral during the 2015-2016 Year of Mercy, along with the Holy Door erected at the entrance to the middle aisle. Divine Mercy Sunday began with a Congregation of Divine Worship decree in 2000 with the first observance in 2001. Saint Pope John Paul II celebrated the first Divine Mercy Sunday, and died on the feast day eve in 2005. We are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet to mark the feast, especially at the hour of mercy, 3:00 p.m.

The aftermath of the crippled man’s healing continues, with the authorities worried about containing the people’s fervor. Peter sets them straight: “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” The Psalm sings the glory of the Lord: “The right hand of the Lord is exalted.” St. Mark delivers a summary of Christ’s appearances after the resurrection, ending with Jesus’s charge to the disciples, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

St. Peter again proves his mettle, after being led to jail for his proclaiming the Christ, with a ringing declaration, as he is “filled with the Holy Spirit.” “Know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ ... in His name, the man stands before you healed … There is no salvation through anyone else.” The Psalm repeats his assertion: “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” We rejoice in another familiar story of Christ’s appearances after His rising: on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, to the apostles, who take in an enormous catch as his urging. They breakfast together, and now know beyond a doubt that this man is the Lord.

St. Peter, seeing the amazed crowd flooding into the temple after he heals the crippled man, rebukes them for his own sin: lack of faith. “You denied the Holy and Righteous One,” he accuses them. The good news, however, is that repentance brings forgiveness from the Lord who is the heir of Moses the prophet. The psalm marvels at God’s goodness: “you have given him rule over the works of your hands.” In Luke’s Gospel, enter the risen Lord, showing his wounds, exhibiting his humanity (“have you anything here to eat?”), and reminding the apostles that His mission follows from the history of the Old Testament and affirms that the Christ must suffer, die and rise.

St. Peter, living up to his name, the rock, heals a crippled man in the name of Jesus Christ. The Psalm extols the glory of the lord: “Sing to Him, sing His praise, Glory in His holy name.” the Gospel of Luke is the famous story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, where the Lord revealed himself in the breaking of the bread.

Peter, exemplifying his message to the crowd, exhorts them, “Repent and be baptized … for the forgiveness of your sins.” The Psalm confirms the promise of salvation: “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord … who is our help and our shield.” Our Gospel from St. John tells the endearing story of Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus at the tomb, mistaking him for the gardener. The runs to the apostles, declaring, “I have seen the Lord!”

Today, we begin readings from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke’s account of the period after Christ’s death and resurrection. Monday, we hear St. Peter, formerly cowering in shame and remorse for his thrice denial of Our Lord, standing before a crowd to proclaim Christ risen. The Psalm appeals to hope: “Keep me safe, O Lord, you are my hope … I set the Lord ever before me.” The gospel brings us the wondering joy of the women at the empty tomb. We pray the Gloria every day of this magnificent eight days.

Congratulations to the winners of the Italian Dinner Raffle to benefit Joseph’s House $2,605.00 was raised for our neighbors in need. 1st Prize - Five Course Dinner won by: Rev. Thomas Mattison 2nd Prize - Pannetone (Italian Yeast Cake) Rev. Yvon Royer 3rd Prize—Pannetone Rev. Monsingor Peter Routhier Thank you for your support.

The Easter season comprises Easter Sunday, the Easter Octave, and the weeks following through Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), ending at Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter. During the Easter season, we hear at Mass stories of the Resurrection from the Acts of the Apostles: Mary Magdalene and the apostles at the tomb, the Lord’s appearance on the road to Emmaus, His meeting with the apostles on the shore of Lake Tiberias, and other familiar accounts. If you usually pray the Angelus, you will replace it during the Easter season with the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) prayer. The Easter season offers plenty of time to celebrate the holiday, with Easter egg hunts, flowers, springtime animals such as lambs, rabbits, and baby chicks in toys and baked goods, and special treats from the Easter basket, a homemade lamb cake or Easter bread. The Easter season also is the time for making one’s Easter duty, the Church’s requirement that we receive Holy Communion during this season.

The Octave of Easter spans eight days starting on Easter Sunday and ending the Second Sunday of Easter, which is also Divine Mercy Sunday. Every day of the Octave is a Solemnity, the Church’s highest feast day. We light the tall, white, decorated Pascal candle. We sing the Gloria, hear a special Easter Alleluia verse, and may recite the Easter Sequence before the Gospel. The priest uses an Easter preface. We also repeat “Alleluia” after we say the final “Thanks be to God” at the end of Mass. The priest’s vestments are white or gold, for both the Octave and the Easter season.

On this Easter morning, we hear only words of joy at Christ’s resurrection. From the shame and grief of denying his Savior three times, our first reading finds St. Peter proclaiming the rising of Our Lord. “This man God raised on the third day.” In response to Psalm 118, we sing, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!” The Psalm declares, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” And again from St. Paul, " seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." Our Gospel from St. John describes the miraculous scene early Sunday morning: “the cloth that had covered His head rolled up, … in a separate place.” Now we look forward to weeks of celebration during the fifty-day Easter season, which ends at Pentecost.

The wait is over! At this long, solemn, joyful, and majestic Mass, we rekindle the light of Christ, answer the call to exult, review our salvation history, receive newly consecrated hosts, and welcome converts into the Church. The Pascal candle is marked and lit, and we spread light and joyful triumph through our church, during the dark hours of the night. The church is banked with flowers, and resounds with Easter hymns. Our priest wears white vestments. We hear the Gloria and the Alleluia. The Vigil Mass begins at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 8:00 p.m., with Bishop McDermott celebrating and preaching. Rejoice, for the Lord has risen indeed!

No Mass is celebrated today: our services resume from the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with Holy Communion distributed from hosts consecrated yesterday. The altar is bare, the service begins in silence. Today, we recall Our Lord’s Passion and Death. We hear the lament of Psalm 31, “Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit,” and read the Passion Gospel according to St. John. We venerate the Holy Cross and depart in silence. The service at the Cathedral begins at 3:00 p.m., in the main church. There is no 12:05 p.m. Mass or evening Stations of the Cross.

Holy Thursday – also called Maundy Thursday, referring to the Latin word mandatum, commandment, quoted in the verse before the Gospel. Today the only Mass celebrated at our parish is the Mass of the Last Supper at 7:00 p.m. upstairs in the main church. We will collect food and money donations for our local food shelf in lieu of a regular collection. We honor and adore the Blessed Sacrament, instituted at that Passover feast by Christ Himself. The feet of twelve faithful may be washed, replicating Christ’s humble service to His apostles at the Last Supper. We hear the Gloria and bells, which then cease until the Easter Vigil. The Mass does not end but closes in silence without a final blessing. The altar is stripped. The Blessed Sacrament is transferred solemnly to an altar of repose where we may keep vigil, as Our Lord did in the garden of Gethsemane, in the first agony of His passion.

This last weekday before the Easter Triduum is also known as Spy Wednesday, when, as we hear in the Gospel, Judas Iscariot bargained for Christ’s arrest. Before St. Matthew's account of that betrayal, we hear frightening hints of the Passion: "My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting...they put gall in my food and ... gave me vinegar to drink."

At Mass, the prophet Isaiah trumpets himself as the strong, fine-edged servant of God, a weapon in the hands of his Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus reclines at table at the Last Supper, “deeply troubled,” offering Judas a chance to turn away from evil, hearing Peter avow his undying loyalty. Our diocese celebrates the annual Chrism Mass today, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, in the upstairs church. There is no 12:05 p.m. daily Mass. Our parish priests will renew their ordination vows and receive holy oils for their parishes.

Mass begins with fighting words in the Entrance Antiphon: "Contend, O Lord, with my contenders; fight those who fight me." In the reading, we hear another excerpt from Isaiah's suffering servant discourse: ""he shall bring forth justice to the nations." The Psalm is hopeful, early in Holy Week: "The Lord is my light and my salvation." In the Gospel, Mary of Bethany pours costly oil over Our Lord, and weeping with remorse for her sins, wipes His feet with her hair. Jesus speaks of her great love which merits great mercy.