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As we celebrate
Easter this year, we find ourselves gathering in smaller groups, with
many participating at the Easter Mass virtually. Few are venturing out
during this pandemic. Here in the church, we are observing what I call
the COVID-19 protocols: observing social distancing, we are discouraged
from singing at Mass, and there is no blessing of the new fire at the
Easter Vigil, or sprinkling holy water. On Holy Saturday, there was no
traditional food blessings here on Holy Saturday. There is no
procession around the Church on Easter morning. Even our church
decorations are more subdued. This is our second Easter living with the
coronavirus pandemic. Last year at this time, our churches were closed
and we were encouraged to watch the Holy Week and Easter celebrations on
television or on our computers and participate virtually. This is, it
is a little different. We are open but with restrictions. Most of us
miss the “old days” when we could gather as a parish community to
celebrate the Easter Mysteries. We could gather in large groups, both
family and friends, to celebrate Easter. Today, those events are very
limited. Despite this, what we celebrate today hasn’t changed. Today
we celebrate our Lord Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, opening for all
of us the way to heaven. Imagine for a minute being back in history to
that first Easter. After witnessing Jesus’ suffering and death, and
questioning our own faith commitment, the pure joy of encountering the
risen Christ. Jesus promised to come back and he did. His death
restored our relationship with God and his Resurrection conquered both
sin and death. For this we rejoice. I wish everyone in the parish and
our many friends and holy and blessed Easter. May all of us remain
strong in our efforts to overcome this pandemic, and may God be with us
today and every day of our lives.
God bless!
Fr. Joe Bacevice |
PLANT SALE
This weekend is the last weekend to
return plant sale orders and payments. They can be placed in the collection
boxes or dropped in the rectory mail box. We need all the orders in before
Monday afternoon. We thank you for your support. |
SURVEY
All are asked and invited to
take the Disciple Maker Survey of parish life as part of a diocesan-wide project
to improve parish life. The results of this survey will help our Parish Council
make concrete plans for programs to improve the spiritual life of our parish.
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is accessed online. You can
go to:
https://www.catholicleaders.org/cleve-landdmi
and select our
parish, St. Casimir, or go to:
https://portal.catho-licleaders.org/dmi/survey/k323a23ky0
to access our parish survey.
To
give everyone more time to participate, the last day to complete this survey
will be April 18, 2021.
DIVINE MERCY
Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, the day we are reminded of the Divine Mercy
of our Redeemer. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, all of us are invited
to experience the Divine Mercy of the Lord. The Second Sunday of Easter was
proclaimed by Saint John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday in 1990, the day he
canonized Saint Faustina Kawalska. Divine Mercy Sunday was also the day Pope
Francis selected to canonize both Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II as
saints in the Church.
Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet.
HELP US
Last week, I wrote a letter in the bulletin asking for a donation from all our
families of $200 or more to help us make up offertory money lost because of the
pandemic. For those who are able to make such a donation, place it in an
envelope marked “Special Donation.” I thank you for your generosity.
FAMILY PERSPECTIVE
Wrapped in grief, the family of Jesus went to the tomb to anoint His body. They
saw only death until two strangers announced His resurrection. Like the
strangers, we are called to be “Alleluia” people who affirm life to others. The
resurrection bids us to bring light to darkness, hope to the despairing and
comfort the sorrowful. Alleluia! He is risen! |
Lietuvi