Dear Friends,
Isn’t it wonderful that I could come up with something or the other to be grateful to God for? Last week we thanked God for the 57 of our lovely children who received the Lord in the Eucharist for the first time. This past Sunday, 5th May 2019 we had a great time bringing together people under the banner of St. Brother Andre Bessette Golf Tournament. It was so wonderful to see the wide-ranging response to this invitation. The people truly had a great time. The response was overwhelming as we even had to turn down some because we were up to capacity. I want to thank all the players for their time and effort to make of this golf tournament an experience of fun and building relationship. Needless to say, too many had helped make this event a grand success. Thanks, are primarily due to Cheryl Cominksi, Paco Farach and David Tomczak for their coordinated efforts. We had wonderful and delightful people who formed the team of volunteers setting up things, selling tickets, keeping records, getting sponsors and donors, planning for the day of the game and then the dinner itself. Without their love for our parish and their love for golf, and their willingness to put in hours of hard work this event wouldn’t have been successful. Thanks hugely to our very generous sponsors for their unstinting support of our program. Finally, of course we had the draw for the 50/50 Raffle. I am glad for the 4 winners who took home a sizeable amount. At the end of the dinner I have also announced Cheryl Cominski as the chair person and Marie Sanders as the co-chair for the next year’s golf tournament. They know a thing or two for they have run such events in the past.
I am very saddened to announce the passing away of Fr. John L. Durkin on Monday, 6th May 2019 at Viera Hospital. Fr. John was the priest of the Arch Diocese of NY and after his retirement in 2009 for medical reasons he came to Viera to spend his retirement at his cousin Joan Egan’s house. He helped with Weekend Masses at St. John the Evangelist and was much loved by the parishioners for his down to earth and very focused homilies. He celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination in 2017. He had been suffering from COPD for many years and died of shortness of breath. I anointed him moments before he became unconscious. These were literally his last words before he closed his eyes: “I love you; I love the church; I love the people.” This was truly a priest close to the heart of Jesus. His funeral will be held in NY. There will be a memorial Mass at St. John the Evangelist on Saturday, 13th July 2019 at 10 a.m. followed by a luncheon. I want to thank Joan Egan for the excellent care she had provided to Fr. John. She was indeed an angel. Please pray for the repose of his soul. I would like us all to consider joining the Mass of Thanksgiving for such a wonderful priest.
Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter. The Gospel passage given for our reflection has Jesus speaking these immortal words: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27). How blessed are we to have a shepherd who gives everything of himself to us so that we might have everything not just for here on earth but for eternity. This weekend would be appropriate time to pray for good leaders in imitation of Jesus the Good Shepherd. This weekend is also celebrated as the “World day of Prayer for Vocations.”
We also celebrate this Sunday as Mother’s Day. How grateful we are to our mothers. But for them we wouldn’t be who we are. The most important gift that a mother can give apart from giving us birth is to ensure that their faith is passed on to us. There in lies the greatness of our Catholic Parents. No matter how hard the devil tries to get us away from the Catholic faith, our mothers know deep down in their bones that it is the one and true faith established by Jesus himself and hence our mothers deserve a great dose of gratitude.
THANK YOU, MOTHERS, FOR THE PRICELESS GIFT OF OUR FAITH!
HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER’S DAY!
With love,
Fr. John