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The Easter Season concludes today with today’s celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. This event marks the beginning of the Church. The story of Pentecost is found in the first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles. We ourselves were filled with the Holy Spirit at our baptism, along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit energize us on our Christian journey of faith.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. Traditionally, it was observed on the Thursday prior to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Over twenty-five years ago, most of the dioceses of the United States, received permission from Rome to transfer the Ascension to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. This year we read from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, where Jesus gives the “Great Commission” to the Apostles and the early Church—telling them “Go out into the world and tell the Good News—know that I will be with you always until the end of the world.” Jesus is with us here today in the Word proclaimed, and in the Eucharist, His Body and His Blood. We are also commissioned to bring the Good News of Jesus into the world.

Family of the Month for May 2023 Is Jake & Elaine Maus.  Knight of the Month for May 2023 is Randy Aucoin.  All practical Catholic gentlemen 18 years and older are invited to join our council. Contact Robert Beadle or Joel Ocmand for details.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! A very happy and blessed Mother’s Day to our moms. May your day be filled with God’s blessings on your special day. I will remember all mothers, living and deceased, at Mass this weekend.

As we journey together on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we give praise and thanks to God for sending us the Son, who sacrificed His life to save us, who has shown us the way to eternal life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that He is preparing a place for them in His Father’s house. Jesus tells the disciples and us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let us place our trust in the Lord that one day we will reach God’s dwelling place.

As many of you may not know, St. Peter’s Food Pantry has been delivering food to the community every 2 weeks, either directly to families in St. Peter’s and St. Hubert’s parishes or to the Ministry of Care. We have reached a critically low inventory on hand and would like to ask for these critical items. Here is the list of items needed: Pasta Sauce, Spaghetti packs, Peanut Butter- any size, Rice, 4 Pk Fruit cups, Knorr Rice side dishes, Knorr Pasta side dishes, Instant Potatoes- Regular or Idahoan Flavored packs if possible Thanks as always for your support in helping those around us. As always if you have a family in immediate need, we can put food together to assist that day. God Bless Y’all, Joel Ocmand, Social Justice Committee

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday because the Scripture Readings, especially the Gospel, invites us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In each of the three-year Lectionary cycle, the Gospel is taken from the tenth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel. The chapter sets the framework for Jesus’ teaching about Himself as the Good Shepherd.

Next week we will take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Home mission dioceses are those dioceses in the United States, its territories, and former territories that cannot provide basic pastoral services without outside help. Basic pastoral services include Mass, the sacraments, religious education, and ministry training for priests, deacons, religious, religious brothers, and lay people. Today, nearly 40% of dioceses in the United States and its territories are unable to fund the essential pastoral work their communities need. In the state of Louisiana, the dioceses of Houma-Thibodaux, Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Shreveport receive grants from the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Your support of this appeal helps them meet these faith formation and sacramental needs. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal.

Today, on this Second Sunday of Easter, we also celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope Francis, as he preached his first homily as the Pope said, “Mercy is the Lord’s most powerful message…It is not easy to trust oneself to the mercy of God, because God’s mercy is an unfathomable abyss—but we must do it.” Pope Francis continued, “He has the ability to forget, which is special: He forgives our sins, He kisses you, He embraces you, and He says to you, ’Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, sin no more.’ Only that counsel does He give you.”

Happy Easter! Rejoice! This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!! Today, we begin the Easter Season—our 50-day meditation on the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection. Our Gospel today tells us about the disciples’ discovery of the empty tomb. It concludes by telling us that they did not yet understand that Jesus had risen from the dead. Thus, the details provided are not necessarily meant to offer proof of the Resurrection. The details invite us to reflect upon a most amazing gift—that is faith in Jesus and His Resurrection.

Today, we begin Holy Week, the days which we journey with Jesus on His way to the Cross and anticipate His Resurrection on Easter. The Liturgy (Mass) begins with the procession with palms to remind us of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, are the holiest days of the Roman Catholic Church’s Calendar. The Sacred Triduum (three days) begins on Holy Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 P.M. At this Liturgy, we celebrate the institution of two Sacraments: Holy Orders and the Eucharist. Adoration will follow the Mass until 10:30 P.M. On Good Friday, we commemorate the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 P.M., with the Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross and reception of Holy Communion, which was consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening. On Holy Saturday evening we gather in the darkness of the night at 8:00 P.M. to begin the Easter Vigil Liturgy with the blessing of the fire and the lighting of the new Paschal Candle. At this Mass, Tavin Jackson, a seventh grade student from St. Peter School will be fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. He will receive the sacraments of Baptism-Confirmation-and Holy Eucharist.

If you can donate palm fronds for our Passion Sunday liturgy, please bring them to the rectory by March 30th. If you have some to donate, but can’t bring them, call 536-2887.

Brand/ Safeway scaffolding up for lighting repairs in day chapel. Thank you for helping St. Peter’s.

Welcome Father Chris Krymski, O.S.M. who will lead our Parish Mission on Monday, March 27th and Tuesday, March 28th. The theme for the Mission is: Jesus Christ is Our Real Presence of God in the Eucharist. The Mission begins at 6:30 P.M. The Mission talks will take place during a Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Monday’s Mission talk will be How do We Prepare Ourselves to Receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist? Tuesday’s Mission talk will be How do We Share Jesus in the Eucharist with Others? Please make every effort to attend the Mission. Invite your family and friends to the Mission!! Our Eucharistic theme for the Mission is in response to the Bishops of the United States implementing a “Eucharistic Revival.”

The coir is in need of some extra voices for the Holy Week Services.  If you like to sing, would you consider joining the choir, even if it’s for only the Holy Week Services.  A special practice for the Sacred Triduum Liturgies will be on Wednesday, April 5th at 10;00 A.M.

As we did last week, we are reading from the Gospel of John. Today, we will listen to the story of the healing of the blind man to which we turn for insight into the spiritual life. For people in the Bible, isolation from the community was a form of death. Life was re-entry into the community. As we celebrate the blind man’s healing, we celebrate his acceptance and return to the community. What is it that needs healing in our lives? How do we need to change our hearts and let Christ’s gifts of freedom, light, and life enter us?