Posted on April 19, 2022 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters,
Happy Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord! Jesus has risen from the dead! This announcement resounds in the Church throughout the world together with the singing of ‘Alleluia, He is alive forever in our midst’. This Good News has been lit like a new flame in the Holy night of the Easter Vigil; in the night of a world that faces crucial challenges, due to war and all the trials that hinder the life of humanity.
Today, we must be grateful because we are able to gather as a family to celebrate our Lord’s resurrection, and that is the reason for our joy; a joy that has to become contagious, because it has to make us lose fear. It is a “contagion, which is transmitted from heart to heart, because every human heart awaits this Good News. It is the contagion of hope: “My love and my hope have truly risen!” It is not a magic formula that makes problems disappear. We must understand that the resurrection of Christ is the victory of love over the root of evil, a victory that does not “pass over” suffering and death, but goes beyond them, opening a path in the abyss, transforming evil in good, a distinctive sign of the power of God.” (Pope Francis, Easter message 2020).
As a parish, in the midst of this Easter joy, I want to invite you so that this Easter celebration is reflected in our faith commitment, and in the increase of our love for the parish. That being said, many parishioners still have not returned to in-person masses, I imagine they are still afraid, and I pray to God for them, because I know it is difficult. Jesus has risen and it is time to return home, it is time to overcome fear. It is time to begin to enjoy the sacramental life and to begin to invigorate pastoral activities. I think it is important to reflect on our baptismal commitment, that commitment must be reflected in active participation in parish ministries. We need more lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and more ushers. We have to rise with the Lord and begin to strengthen our parish more and make our ministries flourish again.
I invite everyone to congratulate our brothers and sisters in faith who received the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. It is a reason for joy because our spiritual family now has more members. Let us also congratulate and welcome the brothers and sisters who received the sacrament of confirmation and made their profession of faith, and now have full communion with us in the Catholic faith.
Finally, I would like to thank all the volunteers of our parish: ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, sacristans and musicians, who in communion with the parish staff, have made a great effort so that the liturgy on these special days of Holy Week were all done beautifully and with great respect; know that you are all very important to me and have a very important place in my heart.
Happy Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord,
Fr. Alex
