From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Parishioners,

“Do you believe this?” Martha said, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (John 11:26-27)

In our Gospel of the raising of Lazarus, Jesus confronts Martha and questions her if she believes in Him. Martha replies yes because she knows who Jesus is. Jesus was very much a part of the lives of Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus. In her journeying with Jesus, Martha has experienced many remarkable things. I dare say that it was more than the works she may have witnessed that gave her the grace to affirm Jesus as Lord. We know from the Scriptures that Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were very close to Jesus. As good friends and people whom Jesus loved, they would have known more than just His works; they would have known His heart. It is in knowing His heart that Martha is able to say yes to Jesus.

In our own journey of faith, we are called to deepen our relationship with Jesus. We are called to know more than just the stories about Him. In order for us to give our hearts and lives away, we must cultivate that deep and abiding relationship with Jesus. It is in that close relationship that Jesus is able to enter the very fabric of our being. When we welcome Him in, His message can be the light that guides our path. St. Paul tells us today that “the Spirit of God has made His home in us.” How comforting and hopeful that is for us. We know we do not have to walk this journey alone but we are animated by the Holy Spirit. If we have the strength to fall into the arms of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will give us the grace we need to follow Him with our entire being. BUT it takes trust, and, as we heard in the Sacred Scriptures, making God the priority in our lives. When God is first, all else that is contrary to God will take a “back seat.” Then the power of the Holy Spirit can be unleashed in our lives and we can experience an attitude of gratitude.

This is the joy by which we give our lives to God and acknowledge the many blessings He has bestowed on us. So we need to list those blessings, name them, give them life. When we know them, we must then use them for the greater glory of God. God has gifted us with time, talent and treasure. These gifts, through our faith, have been entrusted to us to share with others. And so we become accountable to God for the gifts He has given us. Remember, each of us has been entrusted with a plot of land in the Kingdom of God and our accountability is how we sow the seeds of the Kingdom. This is our gift back to God as His stewards. St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Faith in action is love, and love in action is service.” As we walk these days of Lent, we are reminded of the Light that has come into the world. That Light who brings us eternal life calls us to believe and, in that belief, to act. So we hear Jesus ask us the question He asked of Martha...”DO YOU BELIEVE?” Pray, my sisters and brothers, that the Holy Spirit may give you and I the strength to always say YES.

I want to congratulate our St. Mary’s High School Girls’ Basketball team for winning the State Championship the second year in a row. They did a fantastic job and made us so proud. Go Gaels!

A reminder that our Diocese, along with the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions) on the Monday of Holy Week, April 3rd. Each parish in all three dioceses will have priests available in the confessionals from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-9:00 PM. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to prepare for the great days of Holy Week.

The Veiling of Crosses and Statues on the 5th Sunday of Lent

As you come into the church today, you will see that the crosses and statues have been covered or “veiled.” Why are we doing this?

Veils over sacred images keep our minds on the promise of Easter.

It might seem strange that during the most sacred time of year, Catholics cover everything that is beautiful in their churches, even the crucifix. Shouldn’t we be looking at the painful scene at Calvary while we listen to the Passion narrative on Palm Sunday?

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