In this Easter Season, you may have noticed some special elements in the mass. Most notable of which is the Sprinkling Rite, replacing the usual Penitential Rite as a reminder of baptism. “It is a wonderful way to reinforce the initiatory quality of Easter, and serves to tie the dying and raising of the faithful in the waters of baptism to the dying and rising of Christ.”

Ordination is the sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and enabled to minister in Christ's name and that of the Church. The ordination ceremony includes various rituals, rich in meaning and history, but the essential rite of the sacrament is the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration. By this ritual, the ordaining bishop and the other priests invoke the Holy Spirit to come down upon the one to be ordained, giving him a sacred character and setting him apart for the designated ministry.

This weekend, as we pay tribute to all mothers, biological and spiritual, living and deceased, we also reflect on the Church as our Mother. In the weekly catechesis of Pope Francis on September 18, 2013 entitled “The Church is our Mother,” he shared that “among the images that the Second Vatican Council chose to help us understand the nature of the Church better, there is that of “mother”: the Church is our mother in faith, in supernatural life.” He asks, “In what sense and in what way is the Church Mother?”. Allow me to share an abridged version of his reflection.

“What is Eucharistic Adoration?” This is a question we often hear from those new to the faith or searching for ways to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, “Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the “King of Glory,” respectful silence in the presence of the “ever greater” God. Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.” (CCC 2628)

Holiness is our common goal. It is everyone’s primary vocation. Holiness means trying to be like Jesus. It means being a “whole” person: striving for virtue, avoiding sin, and living a life of love. After the decision to follow Christ and seriously pursue holiness, your vocation is the most important decision in life.

Why Eucharistic Revival? It is because “ our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

Perhaps, you can identify with Simon Peter. You have been “away” for a while, only looking from afar. You know that your heart beats for Jesus but for some reason, you decided to step back. But you are here again. You have returned. You want to be back in the loving presence and embrace of the Lord, and you vow not to let anything separate you from the love of Christ. WELCOME HOME. There is a reason why you are back to Church today and certainly, the Lord’s call is instrumental in that.

On March 28th, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., we shall have our Lenten Communal Penance Service. Over 25 priests are coming to hear your confession and grant God’s forgiveness through the Prayer of Absolution...

We need to allow Jesus free entry into our personal lives. A sign that God is active in our lives is Him entering in to our personal, “private” lives. Jesus wants to “get personal” with us, especially during this Lenten Season. Jesus wants to get into our “private” lives because we have a “private” personal life which is contrary to the will of God. Christ wishes to come into that “private” life, not to embarrass us, not to judge or condemn us, not to be unkind or malicious to us, but to free us, to change us, and to offer us what we really need: living water.

The Gospel of the Transfiguration is proclaimed every year on the Second Sunday of Lent. During this liturgical season, the Lord takes us with him to a place apart. While our ordinary commitments compel us to remain in our usual places and our often repetitive and sometimes boring routines, during Lent we are invited to ascend “a high mountain” in the company of Jesus and to live a particular experience of spiritual discipline – ascesis – as God’s holy people.

Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. These are the three pillars of Lent. “Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated,” St. Peter Chrysologus says. “If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.”

Christ Jesus is really and truly present in the Eucharist

In the ancient world, salt was highly valued. The Greeks called salt divine, and the Romans said, “There is nothing more useful than sun and salt.” The English word “salary” literally means “salt money.” In the time of Jesus, salt was connected in people’s minds with three special qualities... PURITY-PRESERVATIVE-FLAVOR

Being poor in spirit is the fundamental condition for becoming blessed and happy. We are blessed when we know our need for God and do His will every day. We are poor in spirit when we surrender our plans to God and ask for His help. We are poor in spirit when we admit our sins, mourn for them repenting, ask His grace and forgiveness for them, and promise to “sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.”

'Jesus is the Light’ which the people in darkness are rejoicing to see, but he will soon say to his followers, ‘You are the light of the world.’ This is his purpose in choosing his followers and this is the mission he entrusts to us today, his modern-day disciples.

No doubt, the Lamb of God is the most meaningful title given to Jesus in the Scriptures. It sums up his love, sacrifice and triumph on the Cross - for our sake. This puts upon us the challenge to be like him – to live and die like Jesus, the Lamb of God. To live like a lamb is to lead pure, innocent, humble and selfless lives. To die like a “sacrificial” lamb is to share our blessings of time, talent and treasures to others in the family, church and community. We cannot do this unless we have an intimate relationship with him. We cannot be a disciple of Jesus at a distance. To be like him is to be drawn close to him – to know him, love him and serve him. Amen.