Dear Parishioners,

 

The Sacrament of Penance is a gift from God to the Church. Jesus Christ, on the Sunday night after he rose from the dead, breathed the Holy Spirit on his apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain, are retained.” (John 20:22b-23) The Lord Jesus knew that forgiveness of sins was essential to the health of his people, so he gave this authority to the Church immediately after he rose from the dead.

 

Last week was Confession week. Besides our three plus hours of confessions on Wednesday, we also heard confession on Sunday afternoon at St. Julie’s for 90 minutes. As priests who desires to see people reconciled to God, this ministry is our joy. And in case you missed these opportunities, fret not. There is more. We will still offer this Sacrament on Saturday afternoons and on Wednesday mornings at St. Peter Parish. There will also be extra hours during Holy Week. Like the prodigal son in today’s gospel, our Father welcomes you with open arms.

 

Please keep our candidates for Confirmation in your prayers. They will be having their interviews over the next couple of weeks. Especially, please pray for the adults and youth that will be initiated into Christ and the Church at this upcoming Easter Vigil. Especially pray for Dale Chan from St. Julie Parish, who has been preparing for the Easter Sacraments with the St. Peter Parish OCIA group. May they encounter the Lord in the Easter sacraments and remain faithful to Him!

 

I have been getting more inquiries about getting marriages convalidated in the Church. Fr. Isidore and I are glad to assist couples in these situations. Please do not hesitate to call us.

 

This is Parish Mission Week! Frank Runyon is here to lead us through our three-evening mission. I have heard that Frank Runyon’s presentations of the gospels and his messages are very engaging. Please make every effort to participate. As we give our time to the Lord, he will give us blessings in return.

 

This is Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means rejoice. We rejoice as we pass the halfway point of Lent. We especially rejoice because of the reconciling love of the Lord revealed to us in the Sacred Scriptures.

 

Our first reading from the Book of Joshua summarizes the story of one of the most famous stories of Jesus-the prodigal son. The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” Certainly, this is what the father did when his wayward son returned home. He clothed his shame with the finest robe. The sandals indicate that he was not a slave but a free person. The ring on his finger indicates that he was restored as a family member. His shame was removed.

 

Also from our first reading, the Israelites ceased to receive manna, the bread that sustained them on their journey. Why? They have now arrived in their homeland and could eat its grain. Similarly, in today’s gospel, when the younger son returns, the father celebrates his return home with the slaughtering the fatted calf. So too our shame is removed through Baptism and subsequently through the Sacrament of Penance. We now have the privilege of feasting on Christ Himself in the Eucharist.

 

Let us pray to always be grateful for the mercy that has found us. This will keep us from becoming hardened like the elder brother. Our delight is not primarily in our earthly comforts but in our Lord and the brothers and sisters he reconciles to himself.

 

In Christ,

Fr. Bob Franco