Alleluia

Today’s Gospel reading: John 20:1-9

Join your parish family in the brightness of Easter Sunday’s light to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection! For everything that is different about the previous Holy Week and Triduum liturgies, Easter Sunday will be refreshingly familiar. But we do renew our baptismal promises with the newly blessed baptismal waters.

The Sacred Paschal Triduum closes at sundown today, with Evening Prayer. Take a look back across these three days.

• Where did you meet Jesus?

• What did the Spirit reveal to you in all the symbols of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?

• How will you share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and the new life you have? Who will be the first person you tell?

• Learn and teach the ancient Greek Paschal Greeting:

Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! (Christos anesti!)

Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! (Alithos anesti!)

Is that Greek to you?

Greeting: Christ is Risen!

Response: He is Risen, indeed!

Use this before meals or at parish or family events throughout the Easter season!

REFLECT:

When did Jesus rise from the dead? All we know is it happened sometime before Easter morning when the women arrived at the tomb. So the Church gathers to anticipate and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection during this night through an exuberant liturgy that is the heart of the whole year!

It’s our annual renewal of our baptism, when we both anticipate and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. We support and walk with newcomers to Christian faith, who will be forever joined to Christ in baptism, as well as those who are already baptized and who will become part of the Catholic Church.

The Easter Vigil begins once night has fallen, with the blessing of new fire and the new Paschal Candle. It’s a liturgy filled both with mystery and with revelation.

 Mass and the sacraments are not celebrated until nightfall, recalling the day Jesus’ body lay in the tomb.

 ACT:

• Pray with one of the Psalms that appeared in the central liturgies of the past few days: Psalm 27, 71, 69, 116, and 31

• Fast or make another sacrifice to be united with the Elect who will be baptized tonight at the Easter Vigil.

• Share a walk or other gift of time with a loved one or neighbor today.

Staying up in anticipation

Will kids enjoy the Easter Vigil? Yes! It is unlike any other celebration, and from the beginning— the fire, darkness, light, music, Easter sacraments—will capture their attention. Think of the kinds of things kids will stay up late for from time to time: a movie, a sporting event, a family gathering, a slumber party. Could this be on that list?

•  When you get home, write a few words that     describe what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted,   and touched.

• Join us afterwards at our party to celebrate the Good News and welcome our newest members to the Church!

GOING DEEPER:

Today’s Gospel reading:  Luke 24:1-12

“Why do you seek the living
among the dead?”

REFLECT:

Mass and the other sacraments are not celebrated today, in keeping with ancient tradition. Yet even as we commemorate Christ’s death on the cross, we remember that Christ is in our midst, risen from the dead.

ACT:

• What did you notice about how the church was prepared for today’s Celebration of the Lord’s Passion?

•  When today can you set apart quiet time for prayer and listening to the Lord’s voice, contemplating his total gift of himself that we might live?

• Is there anyone whose forgiveness you seek? Is there anyone you need to forgive? Ask Christ who forgave those who crucified him, for grace to take a stope forward, no matter how small.

GOING DEEPER:

On this Good Friday, sit with Jesus in his Passion and Death. Journey with Bishop Barron through the Stations of the Cross:

Reflect:

On Holy Thursday we remember that Christ instituted the Eucharist at a point in history: just before his suffering and death. He gave it to us and said, “Do this in memory of me,” and the Church will forever continue to follow his command.

But in John’s Gospel, there is no account of Jesus saying “Take and eat, this is my body; take and drink, this is my blood.” What we hear about Eucharist instead is how Jesus humbled himself in service by washing the feet of his disciples. He says, “As I have done, so must you also do.”

Taking all the Gospel accounts together as we must, we learn that to share in the Lord’s Body and Blood at the Eucharistic altar also means that we must pour out our lives in service of the Christ we meet in one another.

ACT:

As you come to Mass tonight, take a look in the St. Michael Eucharistic Chapel. What is different?

• Where did you meet Christ in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper?

• What happened at this Mass that only happens once a year?

• If you participated in the washing of feet, write the name of the person whose feet you washed and consider praying for him or her until Pentecost (June 9).

Go Deeper:

Enter into the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples

Today let us pray for those who will be joining the Church at the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening:

… through Baptism:

Eric Carter

Julie Lara

Brandi Newberry

Jeremy Sheaffer

Cory Wisecup

… through a profession of faith:

Kaitlin Danner           

Shelly Grenier         

Kara McKee

Ethan Settle

… through Confirmation:

Alex Arias

Ricardo Arias

Nancy Gonzalez

Edwin Rodrigues

Jessica Sandoval

Kristine Shaw

How am I living out my rights and responsibilities of my Baptism? How do I support others in living out theirs?

GOING DEEPER:

Join your community as much as you are able these next few days as we journey with one another in remembering the Passion of Our Lord.

Holy Thursday 7:00pm

Good Friday 7:00pm

Easter Vigil 8:00pm

On a daily basis we use 10 billion tons of freshwater worldwide. But over 1 billion people in developing countries do not have access to safe drinking water. According to WHO 80% of all diseases in the developing world are water related. By 2025, the UN estimates that 30% of the world’s population residing in 50 countries will face water shortages. Here in the US we have an abundance of non-water drinks that use water as a ingredient, in production, in the manufacturing of the bottle, etc.

PRAY: Each day of this week, read this Bible verse as a family and add any special intentions.         

“Then Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”                                                         -Mark 9:35

 ACT: Try to limit yourself to only drinking water (& milk). Donate any money that would normally have been spent on coffee, pop, juice, creamer, etc. this week.   

Today’s Gospel is the Passion narrative from Luke: Lk 22:14—23:56

 "Why are you sleeping?
Get up and pray that you may not
undergo the test."

 As we enter into Holy Week: where in my life am I “sleeping?” Where do I need to pray for God to enter into my life?

GOING DEEPER:

Video reflection uses the Gospel of Jesus entering Jerusalem:

Let’s look at the psalm we will use this weekend: My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?

Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God? Have you ever felt abandoned by God?

GOING DEEPER

Read the words of the whole psalm (or listen to the sung version we will use at Mass here)

Which word or phrase sticks out for you?  Pray with that word or idea.  Listen for what God may be telling you about this work for phrase.

Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24.

R. (2a)  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
"He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him."
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
"You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
 revere him, all you descendants of Israel!"
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Today is Friday, and we abstain from meat. When we give up something it is good to replace it with something good.  When you consider not having bacon at breakfast, a hamburger at lunch and steak for dinner what can you add into your life? Maybe it’s a healthy food choice or an extra time of prayer for those who go without. 

 Last Fish Fry for the year—come and build community!

GOING DEEPER

The Virtual Stations of the Cross on the Busted Halo website are a wonderful way to pray the Stations. Take some time today to pray with our Lord as he carries his cross.

Join us this year at the Easter Vigil

Saturday, April 20, 8:00pm

Stay after the service to share in a special celebration of community and welcome!

GOING DEEPER:

What to expect at the Easter Vigil

Today pray with your pinky finger.  Your little pinky finger represents you.  It’s easy to pray for others and to recognize their needs, but what about me. What do I need?

 One way to pray for yourself is to say—

“Lord, Jesus Christ, (inhale)

Son of God (exhale)

Have mercy on me, (inhale)

a sinner.” (exhale)

GOING DEEPER

A Prayer by Thomas Merton - A wonderful way to pray for self:

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. 

Another great prayer - the suspice by St Ignatius of Loyola

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

Our Lenten Project this year is to donate money towards the water project in Tanzania. For people there water is not as abundant as it is here.

Water nourishes us

Water cleanses us

Water is life-giving and life sustaining

Our water consumption is not just computed by what we use for domestic consumption, but also by the products we purchase. That delicious steak we eat uses up 2,034 gallons of water for every 1lb. How? The cow needs to eat 2866 pounds of grain for 3 years before being slaughtered to produce 450lbs of beef. Those grains require water to grow, the farm & slaughterhouse need to be cleaned, the cow needs to drink—all of these add up to 816,556 gallons of water.

PRAY Each day of this week, read this Bible verse as a family and add any special intentions.         

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?      If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?”    -James 2:14-16

ACT: Try not eating meat this week. Here are some great non-meat ideas to try this week:

Friday Meals for Families During Lent

30+ Meatless Family Recipes for Lent 

41 Meatless Meals for Lent 

Freezer Recipes for Lent 

50 Meatless Meals for Lent

12 Kid-Friendly Meatless Meals for Lent

8 Meatless Meals for Lent 

32 Meatless Meals for Lent

Donate any money normally spent on meat this week.

Masses: 5:00pm & 10:30am
Today’s Gospel is John 8:1-11

 “Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you? …

Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Jesus does not pardon her from her sinfulness, but reminds her to sin no more.  When I condemn others do I do it in order to feel better about myself or do I want to help them to change and be better?

8:30 am Mass
Gospel is John 11:1-45

“Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world." “

Do I believe? Do I trust in God’s healing love? Am I ready to come out of the darkness?

Let’s look at the psalm we will use this weekend

To listen to the psalms and other music used at Mass click here

5:00pm and 10:30am

The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy

Say this phrase over and over. Do I believe it? Am I filled with joy?

Read the words of the whole psalm

Which word or phrase sticks out for you?  Pray with that word or idea.  Listen for what God may be telling you about this work for phrase.

Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.

R. (3)  The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Today as you choose to not eat meat consider those who go without meat regularly. Think of the hungry people in our world. Prayerfully consider what you can do to help the hungry.

 One thing you could do this weekend is double your regular donation to the food pantry.

 GOING DEEPER:

Fr Mike on Dogma, Doctrine and No meat on Fridays!

Take a look at our font this weekend. What do you notice?

GOING DEEPER:

Below is a TBT moment - when the Baptismal font was initially installed this was the explanation of the symbolism used in its creation:

This weekend walk over to it and take a look!

Today we look at our fourth finger – the ring finger, which is the weakest finger we have. Pray for those who have been weakened by life situations.  Pray for those who cannot pray for themselves.

GOING DEEPER

We all know those who have been weakened by life situations - the widowed, the divorced, the motherless child, the childless mother… the list goes on. Life is harsh and brings us to our knees. Pray for those who cannot pray for themselves because they are just trying to survive. Pray for those who do not know God, for they too are weakened by not knowing Him. Pray for those who have had physical limitations. Pray for those who are ridiculed and stereotyped.

Today just sit in prayer with those who are weak in body, mind, or soul.

When adults come into the church through Baptism they receive all three of the Sacraments of Initiation. Come to the Easter Vigil and witness God’s grace pouring forth upon those present!

This year plan to stay around after the Easter Vigil for a celebration of community and welcoming our newest members!

GOING DEEPER:

What are your memories of your sacraments of initiation? Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation? Share them with your family today!