The Gospel Is Always Good News

Dear Parishioners,

The Easter season is a wonderful period of the year. Lent is over and we then have seven weeks with so many joyous celebrations. Many of our parishioners will receive the sacraments of initiation. At the Easter Vigil the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults will be completed. On April 19th our eighth graders will receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Then in May the second graders have the grace of participating fully at Mass for the first time as they receive First Communion.

When I see the wonder on all of the faces of so many as they begin receiving the sacraments I cannot help but think how I take all this for granted. What would happen if we could maintain a small portion of the excitement we felt when we were baptized, confirmed and received Eucharist for the first time?

Some of us are stronger in our faith practice than others. Do we simply shake our heads when our friends and relatives drift away from the church, criticizing them? Or, do we say, "What can I do to bring them back?" Every day during Easter Season we hear stories from the Acts of the Apostles. We reflect on how a few courageous, dedicated individuals went out into a world of non-believers and started a worldwide church. How did they do that?

Pope Francis has reminded us the last two years that we are all to be evangelizers. We need to be able to witness to others by our words and actions. That is our task as we move forward as Sacred Heart parishioners. We are going to try and spread the "good news" of the Gospel.

We remember the great commission at this time of year and hopefully we take that charge to heart. Jesus said to his disciples, "Go out into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation" (Mk 16:15). Now is the time to take up the challenge as we share our faith in word and action. Maybe we can touch someone's Life so that they might experience the joy of Easter.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark