JESUS THE RISEN LORD CONTINUES TO BE WITH US

                In the Gospel this weekend Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. The bread and fish in this passage recalls the multiplication of Bread and Fish that Jesus performed earlier in the Gospel. This part of the passage is Eucharistic in nature, meaning that Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist. In this passage he also asks Peter three times: “Do You Love Me?” This is reminiscent of the three times that Peter denied Jesus during the Passion. Jesus never abandons any of us no matter what. He has forgiven Peter for denying him. Through the sacraments we celebrate today we continue to receive Jesus’ forgiveness and we continue to receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

                During the Easter season we continue to celebrate growth in our faith as we celebrate with the members of our parish the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation. The Sacraments of the Church are our gift of love from God and Jesus. It is through the grace of the Sacraments that Jesus and His Father come to live with us.

                Saturday morning we celebrated First Penance with our young people and their families who have been learning about God’s mercy and forgiveness. We congratulate our 7 parishioners: Ella Besecker, Benjamin Michael Hernandez, Alexandra Corrine Miller, Thorello Giovanni Moscati, Edward Robert Plizga, Madeline Sarah Poole, and Sophia Elizabeth Schoepflin.

                Sunday morning at the 11:00 Mass, we celebrate First Eucharist with our 9 young people and their families who have been preparing to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. They will join us at the Table of the Lord each Sunday as we celebrate the Eucharist. We congratulate: Carter John Edward Blair, Shane Patrick Jordan, Andrew Michael Mineo, Nora Muriel Mineo, Matthew Donald Parisi, Nicholas James Puskas, Patrick Harry Quinn, Caroline Rose Rhoney, and Blake Thomas Tzetzo.

                We are grateful to all who have prepared our children for these special sacraments that they are receiving. Thank you to our Catechists: Linda Ciccia, Nora Eberl Plizga, and Ashlee Campbell. Thank you to our Director of Faith Formation, Ashlee Campbell for coordinating these programs as well as all our other Faith Formation Programs. Thank you also to the parents who support their children in the ways of faith formation. Thank you to all our parishioners for their prayers for all who are receiving God’s grace today.