I hope people can come on Saturday the 12th to help with our Spring Clean-up, now that Spring has finally arrived.
In case you are wondering about Ascension Thursday, we will celebrate it next Sunday. It is one of the Holy Days that has been changed to Sunday for us. Our Missalette has it listed for both May 10 and 13 because some Dioceses still celebrate it on Thursday. We don’t.
At the invitation of Pete Morgan, Dan Mandell and I attended a “Call In” at the Charles Martin Center on Wednesday evening. This was a very moving experience as the police and public officials “called in” about 25 gang members from South Bend and presented a program telling them what the police are doing to stop the shootings in the city. Legal people were there and told them how much time they face in prison, if they are not killed by one another. A mother told her story about her 15 year old son being killed and two ex-offenders told their stories on how they turned their lives around. One very strong point that was made is that young men in gangs are killing other young men in gangs and this is mostly black on black crime in South Bend. Three 17 year olds have been gunned down lately. There were several companies there to offer jobs and many community members there for support. Change your lives! Stop the shootings! You are loved! These were the main messages. Let us pray that this works.
Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. In our first reading there is a subtle change. Peter with several Jewish brethren visits a Gentile named Cornelius. While Peter was speaking to the group “the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word”, Jew and Gentile as well, this was taken as a sign that God wanted Jews and Gentiles in his Church. The shift then is to the Holy Spirit, who we will celebrate in two weeks at Pentecost.
In our second reading, St. John emphasizes “love”. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God
and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.”
In our Gospel today, Jesus tells us that love leads to joy. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” He goes on to call us friends. What a great thing. If we love one another, we are friends of Jesus and he gives us his joy! Alleluia!
This Thursday the Church celebrates Saint Damien de Veuster. He is better known as St. Damien of the Lepers. He was a Belgian priest who served the lepers on Moloka’i Island in Hawaii. He served the lepers on that island for many years and said: “I make myself a leper with the lepers, to gain all for Jesus Christ.” Leprosy in the 1800 was incurable and thought to be highly contagious, so leper colonies were set up. There was even one in Louisiana. Today the disease is called Hansen Disease and can be treated and there are no Leper Colonies in the US.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton.
A Father Tolton Prayer: Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.