Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our Lord reminds us today of the importance of remaining connected to Him. To help convey this message, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches. Christ says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He calls you and me to remain connected to Him and He likens that relationship to the vine and branches which grow together. As a branch, you will share in Christ’s very life, the life of the vine, if you abide in Him. If you remain connected to Christ, then you will have life to the fullest. As a disciple seeking to become a saint, that connection with Christ makes sense and deserves our attention and our effort.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In 2012, I was blessed to be able to make a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. The Camino is an ancient pilgrimage route to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. Although the road was most likely a trade route, the pilgrimage route suddenly became very popular among pilgrims in the Middle Ages. This popularity had everything to do with Saint James, an apostle who brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to Spain and whose body is buried in Santiago.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This past week we celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation on Monday. This feast is usually celebrated on March 25, nine months from Christmas. However, because March 25th was in the middle of Holy Week, to allow for an appropriate celebration of the feast, the Church moved our liturgical observance to April 8, avoiding Holy Week as well as the Octave of Easter.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God’s mercy is available to all of us, no matter how great our sins have been in the past. Just look at King David (who committed adultery and murder) or Mary Magdalene (a prostitute) or the good thief, St. Dimas, or the parable of the Prodigal Son, to name just as few examples. Our Lord wishes us to recognize that His Mercy is greater than our sins so that we call upon Him with trust, receive His Mercy and share that mercy with others. The message of mercy can be broken down into three parts that are as simple to remember as A, B and C.

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 and offers forgiveness from our sins! I find that people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness is often related to a broken relationship with God. That relationship can be healed and restored with God’s mercy.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week! Today we begin the holiest week of the year for the Catholic Church. This week the Church commemorates Christ’s death and burial which begins with Palm Sunday. The palms symbolize peace and victory. It was custom during Jesus’ time for people to pay homage by laying palm branches–or even clothes–in front of people who were owed a great amount of respect.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Maybe you have heard the critique that is lodged against Catholic parishes that goes something like this. “I went to Mass at that parish for 20 years and no one even said hello to me.” One could ask why an isolated person didn’t say hello either. But still, hospitality is an essential charism for any community that wishes to grow and flourish! I have heard from many visitors how blessed they felt by the warm welcome that have received at St. Bernadette.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Occasionally, I will receive a call from a parishioner, former parishioner or a non-parishioner who was asked to be a godparent for someone to receive the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation in the Catholic Church. Very often the person is requesting a letter from our parish stating that he or she is a Catholic in good standing. This status of a Catholic in good standing is part of what is required to be a godparent. This measure helps to ensure the person receiving the Sacraments will be supported in the Catholic faith

Millions of dollars from the pro-abortion industry are flooding into Arizona from out of State. This includes paying workers to collect signatures in front of grocery stores and other public locations for an amendment to our State Constitution.

We urge the citizens of Arizona not to sign or endorse this signature campaign.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.” This line from today’s Gospel is a reminder of the importance of silence and spending time with Our Lord. Lent invites us to slow down and notice the ways Our Lord is present to us. In our busy schedule is can be easy to forget how Our Lord wants to be with you. Here are some more suggestions from Fr. Ed Broom, OMV on how to make the most out of Lent. Please see last week’s bulletin for Fr. Broom’s first five suggestions.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus is being tempted by Satan. Jesus will not be distracted by the devil’s efforts as Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Good News: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As disciples of Our Lord, we know that God, through Christ, has defeated Satan. Even though the devil remains active in our world today, we know a day will come when all evil will be destroyed forever and rule of Satan will be replaced by the Kingdom of God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Members of our society, and even members of our government, disguise an anti-life agenda by preaching about “reproductive freedom.” Tragically, this disguise is used scare people by concealing the truth and disseminating lies. This disguise often manifests in the form of misleading arguments, to which, I offer these thoughts for your prayerful consideration.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On May 30, 1862, Don Bosco recounted a dream he had: “In the midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky. One is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin, at whose feet a large inscription reads:” ‘Auxilium Christianorum’ (‘Help of Christians’). The other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a Host of proportionate size, and bears beneath it the inscription: ‘Salus credentium’ (‘Salvation of believers’).