I hope that all of you are celebrating the great feast of Easter. Easter Sunday is such an important day that we celebrate it for an extended period of time. We also celebrate the great gifts of redemption that God has blessed us with. Today is called Divine Mercy Sunday. We recall how loving and merciful God is and how He constantly calls out to us to accept his love and forgiveness. We also hear the Gospel story of Thomas in which we hear the words “cease your unbelieving and believe .” It is easy for us to look back and question Thomas’s doubt and yet how often do we doubt God’s word and the loving mercy of God through our sinfulness and lack of mercy and forgiveness for others? Jesus died for our sins not just the sins of those who were there in Jerusalem. God’s mercy is for all not just for a chosen few. Today we are called like Thomas to believe and to accept the Mercy of God. We are also called to extend that same mercy and forgiveness to our neighbor. This is not always an easy calling and we need the Lord to help and to guide us. We may not be able to touch his wounds but we know that the Lord is with us and so we need to follow in His footsteps.
Holy Week and Easter here at Our Lady of Hope were special and inspiring days. I want to thank all who participated in any way to make it as beautiful and prayerful as it was. The decorations were beautiful. The music was truly inspiring. The liturgies were well planned and all who ministered at them were well prepared and did all that was asked of them. Those that prepared goodies for the celebration outdid themselves and our three newest parishioners brightened our church with their excited smiles. I will not try and thank each individual in this article because I will certainly miss someone. I will point out your parish staff for all the extra time and effort that all of them put into Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. You really need to know how these people serve you and consider their jobs ministry to the parish they love. Together with an army of volunteers they certainly make the life of a pastor really easy. I will point out by name Deacon Jim Ernst who puts all the liturgies together and tells all of us where to be and what to do. Jim had to contend with an emergency surgery for His loving wife Rose (she is healing well and appreciates your prayers), a death in the family and still was present to coordinate and lead the liturgies of this Holy Week. I would say that everything went perfect except for the celebrant at the Holy Saturday service not saying the correct prayers. Father Mannion and Monsignor Velo added to our celebration by their presence and leading us in prayer. It was a pleasure to share in priesthood with them especially on Holy Thursday. Father Tom’s prayers and his presence made it all the more special for me and I am sure for all of you. Once again, to all who participated in any way thank you and a special thanks to all of you the people of Our Lady of Hope who came out and participated in all of the services.
Next Sunday I will not be here. I will be in Houston celebrating a wedding for the daughter of an old friend. In fact, I married the girl’s parents many years ago and now I have been asked to marry the girl I baptized long ago. I mention it only because I will miss you but also to say to young people how special a life in the ministry is. You are able to make such lasting relationships that allow you to participate in these important and meaningful moments in people’s lives. Ministry is a rewarding and wonderful life and the call of the Lord is really a privilege. Listen for God’s call.
Have a Great Easter Week. Know you are loved and live that love. It looks like the same old Cubs. Could be a long summer. I might become a Flyer fan. Hope to see all of you June 29th. Go Blackhawks!
Fr. Clem