New Life, Mercy, and Gratitude

 
As we continue to celebrate the eight-day Easter feast, capped this weekend by Divine Mercy Sunday, we are reminded that everything in this life is ultimately a gift from God, so our gratitude always starts with Him - especially for the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus. From time to time, though, people need to be reminded of how much they are appreciated by others and how you are making a difference in our parish families. Your faith, prayers, and participation in the life of St. Martha Parish and St. Mary Parish help strengthen my faith as well as countless people around us! When we gather to worship during Holy Week and ordinary weeks, we are reminded of God's love for each of us, and that we are united in faith with the communities of our collaborative and the whole Catholic family. You are a tangible sign of Christ and his body the Church to each of us around you, and community is a key part of vibrant parishes!

Fr. Bill and I want to express our appreciation for all those parishioners who contribute to our Holy Week and Easter celebrations and the ministry of our parishes throughout the year. Most importantly, we thank all parishioners who graciously welcomed the influx of worshippers and provided the critical ministry of hospitality (at the doors and in the pews), making our churches places people know they will not be judged but included in the community of the faithful. The music ministries help us raise our voices and hearts to God in song, guided by the leadership of Jeff Johnson and Anne DiSanto at St. Martha and A.J. Hoy at St. Mary. Both art & environment teams, together with Rich Hender, Anne Lesnik, and Scott Leary, make our churches beautiful and festive with the joy of New Life! Those who donated toward Easter flowers allowed us to decorate God's house fittingly with living creations of God; the list of donors and those they honored is published in a binder in each church (copies can be taken or requested from your parish office). The altar servers, lectors, ushers and extraordinary-ministers of Communion enrich our liturgy as they serve with dedication at the tables of God's Word and of the Eucharist each week. The Lewicki family at St. Martha and the Anderson family at St. Mary continued to plow and sand our properties at no cost to our parishes through more than the average number of storms this year! Collaborative staff worked extra hard facilitating your participation and coordinating our many Lenten activities. The ministry of our deacons and priests - including the faithful assistance of Fr. Bernie from LaSallette - are signs of God's promise to be with us always, and I am especially grateful that Fr. Bill and Fr. Bernie helped to expand our ministry of God’s Mercy in Reconciliation during Holy Week. Finally, it is a sign of your dedication to our parishes and the wider Church that you are contributing generously to the archdiocesan Catholic Appeal, our local St. Vincent de Paul ministries, the Holy Land Shrines, and the Clergy Benefit Trust - all while maintaining your support for the parish offertory which directly funds our ministries and buildings.

Considered altogether, this is true Christian Stewardship of our time, talents and treasure. In your active service at Easter and year round, in your financial support, and in your prayerful participation at Mass - you are making a difference: strengthening our Church and our parish families!