My Friends,
    What a difference a day makes!!  Yesterday was dark and gloomy and today, the sun makes its way through the clouds.  Darkness will never prevail for you and me because of what happened on Easter.  Jesus conquered the darkness of sin and death and enabled you and me to share in His glory.    The Responsorial Psalm reminds us:  The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.  And there is a lot of goodness even though it’s difficult to see that especially in the times we are presently in.  
    The message of Easter is to go out and spread the Good News of  the Lord’s love, mercy and compassion to all we meet.  As you do that in your own way, I’m asking you to spread another message to people.  That message is that our Church still needs your financial support in these trying times.  Some people have stepped up and either sent in or brought in their weekly contribution.  Others have gone on our website and signed on to Weshare for online giving.  Whatever you do and whatever you can contribute is most appreciative.   Please tell others who may not be connected to the internet that we could use their support if they are able to do so.  I always say if you are able.  
    May God bless your generosity and goodness to your Parish in their time of need.  All of your priests are praying for good health for you and your loved ones.
God Bless
Father John

     Our all loving Lord understands the weakness of our human nature and still makes this man Peter who denied Him, the head of His Church.  Now in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter boldly and fearlessly proclaims that this Jesus, the One whom the Jews crucified is now the Risen Savior and the Christ who came to save all mankind.  
     The people now feel something of the wrong they had participated in and now ask- What can we do?  Peter answers Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus so that you too may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  
     Many people changed their lives and were baptized.  That was the experience of the early Church.  You and I have been baptized and we need to make the Resurrection of Christ a reality in our lives.  What does that mean?  It means it should not be business as usual.  Easter is not about family meals, easter eggs.  Easter is about new life; it’s about change in your life and mine.  It means if we are kind, we must be kinder to people; it means that we love more as Christ taught us- love those people who don’t love us.  It means that we forgive and ask for forgiveness countless times because Jesus did that.  
     Easter means that you and I must mirror Christ.  We don’t do that just by praying set prayers, saying the Rosary- that’s too easy.  It means that, if we really believe that Christ loved us to the point of dying for us, if we believe that Easter has given us new hope and a new lease on life, then we must be active in spreading the Easter message to others by being there for people when they need us and serving our brothers and sisters in need.  
     Mary announced in the Gospel that she had seen the Lord risen.  Others should be able to say that through our actions, they too have seen the Lord at work through our lives.