Easter - Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear Families,
Children, come quickly! The most amazing thing has happened! You’re never going to believe this!” Do you know what has happened? Have you heard the news? Jesus isn’t dead! He’s alive, ALLELUIA!
Wait, why am I so much more excited than you? Have you heard this story before? Oh, you have, well, it’s still exciting. Don’t you think? Maybe we need to look at this a different way. Have you ever lost a special toy, and then found it again? It’s pretty great when that happens. Or, maybe more for your parents, putting on a pair of pants and finding $20 in the pocket. It just makes your day so much better. Now think about Jesus’ friends, they didn’t lose a toy, they lost their best friend, their teacher, the person they thought was God in human form. He was gone. Then, suddenly he’s not! He’s alive and with them! Now that would be an amazing day, don’t you think?
The story gets better, too. Jesus came back with an unbelievable gift for everyone. Jesus forgives us all for everything, and opens the gates of heaven. So, when you think about it that way, even if you’ve heard the story before, it’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?
Ok, now that we’re all excited about the story, let’s all shout, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!”
Our God is amazing! Let’s pray that God will help us to celebrate the good news of the Risen Christ. Now go in peace and share the Easter blessing with everyone you meet. Amen.
Our celebration this Easter is far richer because of the Lenten journey we shared as a parish family. I wish to thank those who helped to prepare our physical worship space as well as our spiritual selves along the journey from the darkness to the cross and finally to the hope of the empty tomb.
- Evenings of Prayer and Benediction – our presenters, Bishop Emil Wcela, Diane Vella and Fr. John Sureau
- Decorations – Sal Spano, Anne Bantleon and Jose Amen
- Music – Terry Arrigo, Sal Spano, Robin Yaccaki, Margaret Sargent, Adult Choir, Contemporary Ensemble Group and Children's choir
- Parish groups who led us in the Stations of the Cross each Friday
- Soup Supper – our Knights of Columbus, Youth Group and local restaurants who provided the soups
- Breakfast with Easter Bunny – Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes
- Great fund raising by Mr. Neil DeRosa and brother Knights for raising the funds to install new flooring in the Madonna Hall
A special thanks to:
- Parish staff – Lisa Boscarino, Michele Windisch & Jose Amen as well as my brother priest, Fr. Chux
- Pastor's Associates Sal Spano, Maryanne Rietschlin, Anne Bantleon, Marion Celenza and our Coordinator of Faith Formation, Michelle Mascolo
These special people are always ready to serve no matter what I ask or when I ask.
Easter is not a day. We experience new life, new beginnings and hope in many ways. So in closing, I offer you this final prayer:
Whatever dark valley you may experience this year... whatever shroud may enfold you... whenever tears may cloud your eyes... it is my prayer that you would know with certainty that the day is coming when you can look back and say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us."
God Bless You –
Fr. Valentine