Apr 12, 2022

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen Indeed!

This traditional greeting, with which Christians hail each other on Easter Morning, cuts through the bunnies and chocolate eggs and the ability to put sugar in my coffee again. It allows us to share in the event that completely changed the course of history and our understanding of what it is to be human as a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. It reminds us that Christ’s crucifixion was not a senseless death, but by the hand of God, it was transformed into the power to overcome death, which in turn is offered to each one of us. This greeting helps us to place the deepest meaning of this day at the forefront of our celebrations and reminds us of the hope that is held out for each one of us.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE VISITING:  Welcome! The joy of the Risen Lord be with you. May your time with us be spiritually fruitful and may you return back to your spiritual home nourished in the love of our God. Thank you for worshipping here at Easter.

FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A SPIRITUAL HOME:  If your time here was spiritually uplifting, you are certainly invited to become part of the St. Sebastian family. If you are Catholic, please just stop by the rectory during office hours or send in a registration request from our website. If you are not Catholic and something drew you to celebrate this day in the Catholic Church and you think you might want to consider a more permanent relationship with the Church, please contact one of the priests or Keith Johnson by calling the parish office.

THOSE WHO ARE ‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY!’:  I have been so looking forward to seeing your faces again! Welcome home from school, work, vacation or back to your hometown and your home parish. Please make sure you say hello.

AND FOR PARISHIONERS:  Many blessings to you as we celebrate these Holy Days. It has been so fantastic being with you in person with (the seemingly) worse things of the past couple of years behind us. I look forward to growing with you in this next year. Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Easter celebrations such a wonderful praise to our Lord. Many blessings on you all.

IN OTHER NEWS:

DIVINE MERCY:  Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed (almost) immediately following the weekend Masses.

OFFICES CLOSED:  The parish offices will be closed on Easter and Easter Monday.

EVENTS:  Lots of events are coming up. Keep an eye out! Night at the Races, Couple’s Day Out, First Communion, Theology on the Rocks & Theology on Tap!

Happy Easter,

Fr. Valencheck