Pastor's Notes for the Third Sunday of Easter, Sunday of the Word:
Did you hear that Cheryl Ashe won an award from REAL Services. She was chosen for the "Sgt. Shriver Lifetime Achievement Award" for volunteer service. This was at a virtual luncheon. This award is given to a person who spends the majority of their life in service to low income populations. Congratulations to Cheryl!
Today has been designated by the Pope as "Sunday of the Word." Our readings for today are especially rich. The Gospel gives us the Emmaus story of Jesus walking with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus right after his resurrection. This story actually gives us the format for Mass. Jesus explains the scriptures to his disciples, as we do in the Liturgy of the Word and then breaks the bread at table as we do in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Then the two disciples run back to Jerusalem to spread the good news of Jesus, as we do after Mass. In our other two readings we see Peter preaching the resurrection of Jesus and urging us all to conversion. Hopefully the pandemic will break soon so we can return to church and share his Word and his Body and Blood in person. I remember you everyday at our Mass at Fatima where I live with 21 other priests.
I hope y'all are well and avoiding the virus. I am. Thanks again to those who help continue our mission by working in the Soup Kitchen and with St. Vincent de Paul to feed the hungry. Thanks also to all who support us with prayers and financial help.