Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed." –Eph 2:4-5

On Divine Mercy Sunday, the focus is on the healing power of Our Lord's Mercy. Through Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy, we will draw special attention to God's Divine Mercy.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Happy Easter to all of you and a special welcome to all of our visitors! I pray as you celebrate Easter Mass with us, you may come to know the peace of God in your hearts now and always. You are always welcome to come and to thank God for His many blessings most especially His Son who has risen from the dead!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

St. Bernadette parish exists so that God’s children may develop, grow, embrace and live the faith and life of Our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed and taught by the Gospel and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Canon 515 of the Code of Canon Law states:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In just over a week, the Church will begin the holiest week of the year. Throughout the week, the Church commemorates Christ’s death and burial. Ancient writers called this the Great or Holy Week of Our Lord’s Passion. The custom of keeping the Holy Week goes all the way back to the time of the Apostles. When the early Christians spoke about Jesus to others, they started with the Passion of Our Lord. Scholars believe that the Passion of Our Lord spread before the other parts of the Gospel were even written down. The Passion of Our Lord is really the starting point for building our relationship with Jesus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Friday, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, called on Christians the world over to pray in unity with the Church for peace in Ukraine. For the past nine days, many throughout the world joined Pope Francis in praying a Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was completed Friday.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19th. St. Joseph is known as the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. Besides this feast, he is also honored on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1.

Lent can certainly be described as a penitential season that is meant to prepare us for Easter. Part of that preparation includes a beautiful devotion called the Stations of the Cross, which follow the path of Christ from Pontius Pilate's praetorium to Christ's tomb. In the 16th century, this path was officially entitled the "Via Dolorosa" (Sorrowful Way) or simply Way of the Cross or Stations of the Cross.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The devil’s agenda is clear for those who are paying attention. He wants to seek and destroy God’s beloved children and rule the world. One of the devil’s methods of destruction is to do what he can to make sure people ignore God, promote injustice, invite people to solve problems with violence, and ensure that the seven deadly sins remain attractive to vulnerable souls.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My pastor’s column this weekend is an invitation to teenagers and to junior high students to experience our upcoming retreats on April 9th – 11th. This is also a plea to parents to consider sending your teen and junior high children to these retreats as part of your duty to catechize them as they face the challenges of this world. Because we love them, it is essential to give them the necessary tools to navigate our world that is in turmoil.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Do to others as you would have them do to you… Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Today’s Gospel helps us to understand what love looks like. Jesus reminds us that love gives without counting the cost. Love seeks the good of the other without looking for anything in return. This is the kind of love that Jesus invites His disciples to have in our all relationships.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has invited all the members of Catholic Church to embark on a journey of discovery together with him. Through listening and prayerful thought rooted in the Holy Spirit, the entire People of God are being called to look to the future and contribute to a process by which the Church hopes to deepen the understanding of Her sacred mission given by Christ Himself: that of making disciples of all nations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

Bishop Olmsted invites the faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix to unite for a month of increased spiritual warfare and reception of the sacraments leading up to and during “SatanCon,” which is scheduled to be held in Scottsdale the weekend of February 11-13.