Last Sunday, March 26, Faith for Families had a gathering in the Family Center after the 10:15am Mass. To say the least, a good time was had by all who were involved. The theme of the day was Easter and the highlight of the day was the Easter egg hunt for the children ages 2-11. The adults had as much fun as the young children who participated in the hunt for Easter eggs as we watched the children look for the eggs. We all had a very good meal before the Easter egg hunt and the games that had been prepared for the day. After the games, we had desert of ice cream and popsicles. The Faith for Families was a delightful success and brought many families and their children together for faith, for fun and for fellowship. My appreciation to all who came and shared in the joy of the day; it was good for us to be together as the family of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Family! I am especially grateful to all who helped to organize, to help, to serve and to clean up as the day ended. Special gratitude to the Faith for Families committee and in particular to Leah Lormand and Tonia Harrington for their many efforts in planning, in co-ordinating and in carrying out the Easter egg hunt. I pray for and hope for more Faith for Families socials and gatherings in the future.
Last Sunday, March 26, the RCIA had a ceremony of prayer and reflection at the 6:15pm Mass called the Scrutiny. The Scrutiny is like an examination of one’s attitude to God, to the Church and to the teachings of Jesus. The Scrutiny is meant to help us see ourselves and the motives of our hearts as we all seek to be more faithful to Jesus, his teachings and his example. I commend the adults who were involved as members of the RCIA as they prepare for being confirmed and for being received into the Church at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, April 15. I thank the RCIA Team for their faithful and devoted ministry over the past months and I also appreciate the candidates for their response to the call of the Lord to want to become full members of the Church as adults. The RCIA program is an informative, a challenging and a life changing experience for the adults who participate and for the RCIA Team in their own journey of faith, of service and of ministry. Please pray for all involved in the RCIA during the coming weeks before the Easter Vigil.
As usual, the last weeks of Lent and the first days of the Easter season are very important for those children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion and for the young adults who are in the last part of the getting ready for their Confirmation. The Confirmation Mass will be on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30pm. We will be blessed this year when Bishop Douglas Deshotel will be the celebrant of the Confirmation Mass. First Communion will be on Sunday, April 30, at 2pm and also on Sunday, May 7, at 2pm. The Sacraments of our Church are so significant as the instruments of the healing grace of the Lord Jesus. Pray for our Confirmands and for our First Communicants during the coming weeks, and pray also for their parents, their families, relatives and sponsors. The role of the parents and families is essential to the true understanding of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. We are the family of God, we are the children of God, we are all brothers and sisters in the Church. Our individual families gather together to honor, to praise and to worship the Lord in faith, with hope and with love for the Lord and for one another. Pray for those adult leaders of our Church Parish who are helping and preparing these children and teenagers for their Sacraments. As a believer in the Lord Jesus, as a Priest and as a Pastor, my heart is so blessed by the ceremonies of Confirmation and of First Holy Communion.
The Gospel today (April 2) is John 11:1-45, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. I encourage you to take time to read the entire Gospel with your family and appreciate the love of the Lord Jesus for Martha, Mary and Lazarus and to also appreciate how the Lord loves you personally and all the members of your family. It is clear in the Gospel the affection that Martha, Mary and Lazarus had for Jesus as their Lord and their Friend. The relationship these three have with Jesus is such a blessing and such a hope for us. May we seek to love the Lord with affection as Mary, Martha and Lazarus did.
My prayers, love, gratitude and best wishes to you and to your loved ones for who you are, for all you do for the Lord and for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. May the spirit of Psalm130 free us to turn to the Lord: “If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be revered.”
Homework for the week of April 2 – April 8
John 8: 1-11
