Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. If you find yourself struggling to define exactly what that means, you are in good company. Brilliant minds throughout the centuries have attempted to weigh in on our faith's greatest and deepest mystery. Saints remind us that only through faith can we understand the Most Holy Trinity.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost and the birth of the Catholic Church. Nearly 2,000 years ago, we celebrated the day when the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven. We celebrate the fact that those first frightened followers of Jesus had been transformed into courageous preachers who feared neither prison, nor torture, nor martyrdom.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Solemnity of the Ascension Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven, we are given another reminder of Jesus' triumph over sin and death. This celebration is meant to give us hope and strength carry His message to the ends of the earth. Our Lord gave instructions to His disciples before His return to Heaven. Jesus entrusted them with a mission to spread the Gospel.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are blessed with many wonderful families at St. Bernadette and in our grade school, St. John XXIII. I am inspired and amazed at the incredible sacrifices I see parents make as they bring their children to Mass, religious education classes, and to school each week. I am inspired and grateful for our parents’ dedication and desire to share God’s love with their children. The catechists and teachers at St. Bernadette and St. John XXIII are here to help you... BUT your role as your children’s primary teacher is your gift to your children. YOU have the awesome privilege and blessing to form the future of the world IN GOD’S IMAGE!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Within the joy of Easter season, we hear one of the many ways Jesus refers to Himself. He reminds us today that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is also the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. Jesus also referred to Himself as the True Vine and compares us to branches. Of course, we know that branches remain alive when they are attached to the vine. Jesus goes on to remind us that His Father is the Vine Grower. The comparison is meant to spur us on to a more abundant life.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I know I am getting ahead of myself but I just can't help it. It is exciting news. On Saturday, May 16, our Dean, Fr. Jess Ty V.F. will visit us to confer the sacrament of Confirmation on young people from our school and our family catechesis program. This is a significant event as these young people will be sealed with the strength of the Holy Spirit as well as receive Our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time. I invite you to participate in the Holy Mass that will be celebrated at 10:00am.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are grieving the death of the one in whom they had placed all their hope. They are suffering. The death of Jesus left them doubtful. The one who would liberate them from their suffering was brutally murdered and their hearts were broken, leaving them to deal with pain and disappointment. The disciples who once had faith in Jesus the Messiah, now believe that everything they hoped for in Him has ended with the cross. It is as if their joy has been stolen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Catholic Church continues to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, His triumph over death, and within this Easter joy every Sunday. There is a special emphasis on God's triumph over death as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. God's Divine Mercy is an unfathomable gift of His love for us. In his encyclical Dives in Misericordia, Saint John Paul II reminds the world that Divine Mercy is the loving manifestation of God in a history wounded by sin and that God places our miserable situation due to sin in His Fatherly heart, which is faithful to His designs. Jesus Christ, dead and risen, is the supreme manifestation and action of Divine Mercy.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Blessed Easter Sunday! Alleluia! Resurrexit Sicut Dixit: He Is Risen as He Said! Every Sunday we celebrate the reality that Jesus, Our Lord, has risen from the dead, but on Easter Sunday the Church sends a proclamation of the Risen Lord that resounds throughout the world. Beginning with the Easter Vigil, and the lighting of the Paschal Candle from the Easter fire, Christ the Light of the world shines brightly for all to see. On this night, the family of God grows as we welcome our newest Catholics into the Church. Despite the presence of violence, war, division, and death, the resurrection of the Messiah, Our Savior, brings hope and joy to the world and scatters the darkness.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we begin the holiest week of the Church calendar. On Palm Sunday, the Sacred Scriptures invite us into Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Today we hear shouts of "Hosanna" as the people joyfully greet Our Lord, cheering and welcoming Him with palm branches. What an interesting way of honoring the Messiah. Notice how the King of Kings enters riding a colt. This is not because they couldn't find a fitting white stallion. Jesus intentionally offers Himself in humility to show that His kingdom is not of this world.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I can hardly believe that we have arrived to the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Next Sunday will be Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. These past several weeks are meant to be a time of preparation for Easter and the Resurrection of Christ who conquered even death. Throughout Lent, Our Lord calls us to offer sacrifices, prayers, and penances. These 40 days are meant to be a special time to reconnect us with God and to clear out the clutter that has accumulated through our sinful decisions. It is never too late to reconnect with Our Lord's mercy and love. Prayerfully consider making a good confession. A good confession can bring peace to the soul and strength to deal with future temptations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Laetare Sunday We are celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Lent which offers a foretaste of Easter joy. The priest's vestments this Sunday are rose because we celebrate Laetare Sunday. The entrance antiphon chanted at the beginning of Mass begins with the word "rejoice”. “Rejoice in Jerusalem, rejoicе with her, all you who love her..." God wants us to be filled with hope and joy. In a world that can beat us up and steal our peace, Our Lord desires for us to experience His joyful presence in our lives.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thirsty? As Arizona desert dwellers, we know the importance of drinking water... and lots of it. During those hot summer months, there are few things as refreshing as a nice cold beverage to quench our thirst. Not only do wewe enjoy a cool beverage on those hot days, we absolutely must hydrate our bodies or we will not last very long in the summer's heat.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels. During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is "a witness to fraternal charity" and "a work of justice pleasing to God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2462).