Happy Easter!! Today is the wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection, and we are so happy that many people have joined us for our liturgies! As we renew our Baptismal promises and are sprinkled with the Holy Water of rebirth, it is a great opportunity to renew our commitment to living that faith in a fuller way. Here at St. Christopher Parish, we are surrounded by people who hold the same faith and have the same commitment and, because of that, we all contribute to making our world a better place. Now that we have welcomed the newest members of our Church and parish – Melanie Butler, Tara Fullerton, Courtney Reiken and Troy Willoughby – we can all take a look at the various parish ministries and see where the Lord may be calling us to serve. Whether helping with Liturgy, Formation, Outreach or another specialized ministry, there is a place for everyone in our parish. Ask around. You may be surprised at the variety of ministries, programs and groups that call St. Christopher “home”!
Next Saturday, Bishop Malooly will come to our parish to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with some of our young members. These youth have been preparing for the past year to be confirmed in their faith and begin using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to live their faith in a deeper way. Please pray for them as they receive this important sacrament and complete their initiation into the Roman Catholic Church. And congratulations, Confirmandi, on reaching this important milestone in your journey of faith!
This Wednesday is “Administrative Professionals Day,” and I want to take a moment to publicly thank our wonderful support staff. Bridgitte Bailey and Brenda Tate keep things running smoothly in the Parish Office, and Joni Kilgore makes sure that the Formation Office efficiently serves students, parents and catechists. We all know that they are the secret to any success we may have, and I want them to know that the entire parish appreciates their efforts. Thank you, ladies, and God bless!
For many years I have been part of the Focolare Movement, officially called the “Work of Mary”. This movement in the Church strives to build the unity for which Jesus prayed (“May all be one”) by striving to do the will of God. Every year, the priests who are part of the Focolare in the US and Canada try to get together the week after Easter in Hyde Park, NY at our North American Conference Center – Mariapolis Luminosa. Because of this, I will not be here this week (Monday – Friday) and so we will not celebrate daily Masses this week. I will be praying for you and ask that you pray for us as we gather to renew our unity with one another and with God.
Have a wonderful week everyone! May God bless you and your loved one. Father Giuliano