Dear Parish Family,
Sitting here in my “new” office and writing this Easter letter to you made me think of all the changes I (and you) have had since Fr. Paul retired and I arrived. On my part, I have to be honest and say that the changes for me have all been very positive since my arrival. I hope that you’re finding yourselves saying the same.
It was wonderful celebrating Christmas with and for you and learning how things have been done and adding just a few personal touches here and there. Well here we are now having journeyed together through Lent the season of preparation and anticipation of our Lord’s Resurrection. I’ve been told that the sanctuary has never looked like that. As I said at the Masses, it’s not because we didn’t have money for flowers, but done on purpose. Lent represents Jesus’s time spent in the desert and the dried branches, twigs and leafs are meant to remind us that we too are in a desert with Jesus. Now we have journeyed through that desert and by prayer, fasting and almsgiving are now about to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. This is a high point of the Church and our faith. Jesus’s death and Resurrection has opened the way to forgiveness of our sins and opened the gates of heaven and eternal life for us. This one act of live in God’s part has truly changed our lives, giving us the sacraments to help us trough life’s joys and sorrows, knowing that our Lord is always with us.
  Let us now always remember to thank our Blessed Mother who’s “yes” to God made all of this possible. Be assured of my prayers for you and your families as I (and Patsy) look forward to growing together in our relationship with God, our Blessed Mother and one another.
Happy and Blessed Easter!
Love and prayers,
Fr. John