Posted on April 16, 2017 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia! Frohe Ostern! Buona Pasqua! Christos Anesti! Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
A very happy and blessed Easter to each of you from myself, the Fathers, Brothers, and staff of Old St. Mary and Sacred Heart Churches. Easter is the Feast of Feasts and Solemnity of Solemnities. Had Our Lord not risen from the dead, our faith would be in vain. On this day, Christ conquered death and has offered to us the possibility of eternal life. May we never take this gift for granted or forget it. May we pray each day for the graces and virtues that we need, so that we too may rise with the Lord on the last day.
I would personally like to extend my thanks to everyone who helped in any way to prepare for Holy Week. Many many things go on behind the scenes, so thank you for taking time out of your own busy schedules. Thank you to anyone who dropped off food or Easter sweets for the Oratory. Thank you also to those who attended the Holy Week Masses and Liturgies. Holy Week is truly a week that changed the whole world!
I would also like to congratulate all of those who received Sacraments last night at the Easter Vigil. For Baptism and First Communion Jacque Matherne. For Confirmation: Chris Merchich, Sean Pharo, Logan Tenhundfeld, Jean Ann Meyer, Grace Veirs, Natalie Borgert, Rosie Sharpshair, Casey Kelley, and Cecilia Wilhelmy. Congratulations!
Hopefully throughout Lent you have grown in some virtue, in grace, and in holiness. Please remember that even though the Lenten Fast is over, it is still important to continue to pray, to do penance, and to give alms. It is always important, each day, to grow in grace and holiness. Please continue to take advantage of the Sacraments that are offered here. Without these direct lines of grace, instituted by our risen Lord Himself, we would never be able to become more like God. Christ became incarnate so that we could become like Him. He suffered and died for us so that having become like Him, we may spend eternity with Him. What a gift, never to be taken advantage of!
Finally, I would again like to invite everyone to a special Mass to be held on Tuesday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Old St. Mary’s with Archbishop Schnurr. The Procurator General and Apostolic Delegate of the Oratory will also travel from Rome to be with us. The Decree of the Holy Father will be delivered to the local Church on this day. There will be a social afterwards. Everyone is welcome, and I strongly encourage you to attend. Your presence will help show the Archbishop and Oratory officials our gratitude for what has been accomplished here. It would be very nice to have a full church for this celebration. Please set aside the time now to make the effort to be with us in celebration. Please visit the Oratory Webpage to reserve.
Have a blessed and holy Easter!
