He is Risen!

04-20-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

He is Risen. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Today we celebrate the great feast of all Christians… Jesus Christ is Risen from the dead, Alleluia, Alleluia. He has conquered sin, evil, and death. We live anew in Him.

We continue now, as Pilgrims of Hope, on the fifty-day journey of Easter. Our focus as a community will be on Resurrection and Hope. We remember that the tomb that holds death is now empty and He is risen, living among us. The great mystery of our faith is that He indeed lives and is with us. Not a character from the past or one we hope to meet, but one who desires a relationship with us now, in this present time. We live in Jesus—His saving power.

We can encounter Jesus in our lives in many ways, but one of the surest ways is in the Sacraments of the Church. Each one is a real encounter with grace, with Jesus. I often reflect on something I read that ties the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Eucharist together in the mystery of our encounter with Jesus: “The Cross helps us remember what He has done for us. The Eucharist shows us that love in a real encounter. We enter into the mystery now! We do more than look back; we encounter the living Christ in the celebration of the Mass.” Sunday Mass is an important part of the journey through life because it is an encounter with a God who saves us and a community of faith that supports us on the path.

We are grateful to God for all people who joined us for Easter Mass. We pray that you have encountered the Risen Lord in the celebration of the Mass and in the welcoming community. We give thanks to God for all who follow their hearts to connect with the Risen Lord. May His saving grace sustain you and your family.

Our Easter Book this year is “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” from Dynamic Catholic. It is a book to assist you in consecration to the Holy Eucharist. Some parishioners did this last year as part of our Lenten journey, and this year, we wanted to share it with the whole parish to assist us all in developing a deeper love for the Eucharistic Feast we celebrate every Sunday as a community. Watch the bulletin for more details of how we can grow together in making the consecration together as a community.

The second Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday. Special graces were promised by the Lord to the faithful who go to the Sacrament of Confession, attend Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, and receive Holy Communion. A plenary indulgence is granted to that individual. There will be a special Mass for Divine Mercy at 3:00 PM on Sunday to commemorate the hour of mercy—the time of our Lord’s death. We invite all to come; this Mass fulfills your Sunday obligation.

To help us in the season of Easter, we have a special Easter Encounter and Egg Hunt planned in the parish courtyard after the 9:00 AM Mass on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 27th. It will be a time for our young people to explore the different ways Jesus appeared after the Resurrection, culminating in a grand Easter Egg Hunt. It is a good day to invite other young families to enjoy the beauty of Easter… the Lord is Risen.

Be sure to take a family Easter photo either in the Church or outside at the Resurrection Cross. Share it on social media with a message of Easter Hope and the gift of our community of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Let your Easter light and Catholic faith shine to others.

Share the story of God’s love in Jesus who saves us.

We rejoice—He is Risen.

Easter Blessings,

Fr. Fred