Holy Week 2017 was a truly wonderful and uplifting few days. I can say with great faith and gratitude that the best week of the year is the week of the Sacred Triduum. I thank all of you for your participation in the Holy Week ceremonies, especially the large number of you who celebrated the glorious feast of Easter, the greatest of all feasts. I am grateful to all the Ministers of the Eucharist, the Lectors, the Altar Servers, the Choir and the Musicians, the Deacons, the Sacristans, the Ministers of Hospitality, the Décor Committee for preparing the Church for the different services of Holy Week, the Church Staff and all who helped in any way. Holy Week is indeed a parish celebration. One of the moving rituals of Holy Week is the Washing of the Feet of twelve parishioners as Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles (John 13:1-17). This awesome gesture of humility by the Lord and Savior is not only to be admired by all of us who are his disciples and his followers but a guide and a way of life for our actions and our life attitude. For me as a believer and as a Priest, it is humbling to do the ritual of the foot washing. My special thanks to the twelve parishioners who were involved on Holy Thursday as we re-enacted the action of Jesus: Melanie Heintz, Joseph Heintz, Elizabeth Heintz, Michael Heintz, Andrew Heintz, Lisa Miller, Pat Miller, Charlotte Bordelon, Hannah Canter, Noah Romero, Britni Bodoin and Teresa Quebedeaux. May the example of Jesus in humble and self-less service be a guide, a model and an inspiration for us.
Liturgically, the Easter Vigil is the highlight of the Sacred Triduum, the remembrance of the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb after his death and burial on Good Friday. The Vigil on Holy Saturday evening is touching and profound. The lighting of the Paschal Candle as the symbol of Jesus rising from the dead as the Light of the world coming into the darkness of the Church is indeed significant and enlightening. The singing of the Gloria and the ringing of the bells properly celebrates our faith in the victory of Jesus Christ over death, sin, evil and all the forces of darkness. In the early days of the Church, it was at the Easter Vigil that adults were baptized and others were received into the Church. At our Easter Vigil, we were blessed here at St. Elizabeth Seton through the diligent and devoted ministry of our RCIA group over the past months. Clay Sewell was baptized, made his First Communion; Teresa Quebedeaux and Charles Young were received into the Church and made their First Communion; Clay, Teresa, Charles and Britni Bodoin, Randy Ahrabi, Al Landry and Bodie Stelly were all confirmed. For the RCIA catechumens and for the RCIA team, the Vigil was moving, emotional and life changing. My personal congratulations and appreciation to all who have been involved in the RCIA over the past months. May God bless them with a deeper love for the Lord Jesus, a stronger faith in the Church and a greater willingness to live fully their fellowship in the community of the Body of Christ here at St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish.
This weekend (April 22-23) is Divine Mercy Sunday and focuses us on the Gospel when Jesus appeared to his Apostles on Easter and gave them the power to forgive sins: “The Lord Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.’ As the Father has sent me so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:20-23) At the heart of our faith in Jesus is the assurance that the merciful, gentle and humble High Priest was sent by the heavenly Father to forgive, to reconcile and to heal us of our sins, our shame, our evil and our guilt. With appropriate contrition, may we always approach the throne of grace and receive from the Savior forgiveness, mercy and understanding.
On Tuesday, April 25, Bishop Douglas Deshotel, our Bishop, will be with us here at St. Elizabeth Seton for the Sacrament of Confirmation at 6:30PM. We graciously and gladly welcome the Bishop to our family of faith as he confirms our 44 young people in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Lift up in prayer our Confirmation Candidates, their families, their sponsors and their teachers that the Holy Spirit will fill their hearts and inflame their lives with love, generosity, courage and right judgment.
My prayers, best wishes, gratitude and love 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 we all know, experience and share the mercy of Jesus the great High Priest.
SHALOM! Fr. Gary
Homework for the week of April 23 – April 29
1 Peter 5: 5-7
