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Sixth sunday of Easter, May 22, 2022

Dear friends,

As we enter the 6th week of Easter, our Church calls us to reflect on how Jesus prepares his disciples to receive the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, whom he will send after he goes to the Father. For the Spirit to animate us, Jesus would have to leave his disciples again, something they surely could not understand at the time. He assures them that, “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.” How is this possible?

How could he expect his disciples to rejoice when their Master says he must leave them? In three short years of his life, Jesus could not have taught them everything they would need to know. But he did leave them (and us) with the most important teaching of all, namely that God is Love. He loves us unconditionally, and he invites us into this circle of love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, will teach us everything that we need to know and even remind us of Jesus’ teachings. What a wonderful and masterful plan on the part of our God to have orchestrated all of this. How privileged we are to have been invited into this family of love. Fall in love with Jesus every day, and your life will change forever.

As another school year ends, I’d like to congratulate and thank all of our students and their parents and grandparents for making continued growth in love of Christ and our Catholic faith a priority in your families. I’d also like to recognize our teams of volunteer catechists for their time and talents in forming our youth, not only teaching our faith week after week but living it in their own families, in our parish family, and in our community at large:

Kindergarten:                                Bobbie Willingham

Grade 1:                                       Stephanie Ring

                                                     Donna Jackson and Manny Reyes

Grade 2/3:                                    Monique Rivera-Vargas and Valerie Rivera Sonia Bermudez-Baldwin and Jesse Baldwin Janie                                                                      Rodriguez Evaluz Martinez-Juarez Shea, Ariana Alves, and Isabelle Rotter

Grade 4:                                       Jennie Fine

                                                     Jennifer Wiant

Grade 5:                                       Shamir Patel

                                                     Ben Fine and Kiernan O’Toole

EDGE (grades 6-8):                      Ronnie Rodriguez Peter Buckoski Joe Maurin

                                                     Joe Bianchi Tiffany Pasanen Tiffany Wieckowski Anthony Moran

High School Youth Ministry:        Ronnie Rodriguez (grades 9-12)                                Peter Buckoski

                                                    Gail Sullivan Carlos de la Torre Megan Flautt Shane Williams Marie Knick

THANK YOU for your commitment to the sacramental life of our parish!

 And while we take a break from our busy schedules during the summer, I remind you that God never takes a break from our lives, nor should we from our worship of Him. Attend Mass every Sunday, even if you travel. Read the Bible or spiritual books, browse the many selections on Formed.org, and pray the Rosary together.

Have a GREAT summer … and please plan to register for faith formation next year!

 Once again, I’d like to invite the parents of children who will be entering grades 1 through 5 in the fall to consider registering your children for our Vacation Bible School (VBS), Jerusalem Marketplace, which will be held from 13-17 June, 9:00 a.m. to noon in our parish center. Please drop by the office to register.

Have a blessed week!

With love,

Fr. John