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Beloved Parishioners,

A warm welcome is what each of us expects when we visit a new place, a church, party or meet new faces for the first time. Such a warm welcome gives one a sense of love, value, and that feeling of home. Most people do not like to visit a place where they were not welcome, or their presence is not very much appreciated. Giving a warm welcome to a new visitor makes the person feel delighted that he is not in the wrong.

Beloved Parishioners,

The last words of John the Evangelist Jn 21:25 are “This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.” John, in this passage, testifies to the truth of the Risen Lord and Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Beloved Parishioners,

As we continue our celebration of the Risen Lord, I share with you some Easter updates and upcoming events in the parish.

First, I wish to say a big thanks to everyone who participated in the Charity and Development Appeal of this year. It is amazing to see the effort by many of you to ensure that we reach our goal this year. I wish to announce that we have reached our goal and even exceeded it through your generosity, sacrifices and commitment that this was accomplished. I thank you and pray God’s blessings on every one of you.

Beloved Parishioners,

This week I share reflection on Divine Mercy as this Sunday is specially devoted to embracing the Divine Mercy of God. “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” This immortal prayer of Divine Mercy devotion reminds us of the need for God’s mercy in our lives, and ties together the passion of the Lord with the Easter we celebrate. Thus, we are invited today to immerse ourselves in the ocean of divine compassion, to bask in the radiance of the risen Christ, and to be transformed by the power of His mercy.

Today we celebrate the greatest solemnity of our Faith; the foundation on which our hope and faith as Christian stands. We celebrate and rejoice that Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. By rising from the dead, He has defeated the power of death, Satan, evil forces, falsehood, and injustice and took the Glory. God made Him to rise from the dead to prove that He has power over life and death. As Paul would say, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and our faith is in vain.” 1 Cor 15:14-15. But because Christ has been raised, we have hope, and our faith is credible and that is what we celebrate. That is the reason we shout Alleluia! Alleluia! Indeed, the Lord has truly risen.

The passion narrative gives us an insight of what Jesus suffered for us, especially the love He has for us that made Him endure all the insults and humiliation for our sake. Today’s liturgy does not require a long homily but to allow the events of the passion story to speak directly to us in the silence of our heart. Our meditation is on Jesus’ suffering and death for our sake. He came and gave Himself completely to us by His preaching, miracles and healing and finally of giving Himself in humility on the cross.

Beloved Parishioners,

As our Lenten season gradually draws to a close, I wish to communicate to you about Our Holy Week and Easter Celebration which would be good if you take note of some of the changes. Its aim is to update you and keep you informed of the activities at these sacred moments and assist us in deep appreciation of the great mystery of our salvation which has roots in the old tradition of the church.

Beloved Parishioners,

Today, I intend to share a reflection with you on exploring the depth of prayer. It was St. John Damascene who gave that classic definition of prayer, as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24). The Catechism further tries to reinforce that point when it teaches that prayer is a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC, no. 2558).

In today’s first reading we are called to a complete obedience and respect for God’s commandment if we are to maintain a good relationship with God and with one another. God’s commandment is designed for our good and when we obey it for what it is, it gives meaning to our lives as the only way we can demonstrate our love for God is to keep His commandments. Thus, Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel “If you love me keep my commandment.” Jn 14:15

Today is the second Sunday of Lent, a season of grace, prayer, penance, and almsgiving that helps us walk with God. The Lenten observances and practices are meaningful if they are carried out in loving obedience and faith to God. Lent, as a season of grace, is a time we leave behind those distractions and develop a deeper relationship with God. In today’s liturgy, we are called upon to have absolute faith in God irrespective of the challenges and trials that confront us every day. Such challenges can lead to loss of faith in God but from the example of Abraham in the first reading and Paul’s injunction in the second we are encouraged to remain firm and steadfast.

Lent is here again when we draw closer to God and go into the desert with the Lord in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The season of Lent is a season of grace because by walking with the Lord, for these forty days journey, we draw strength and grace from the life of prayer, fasting and almsgiving we do. We grow during Lent by accepting and living the Good News deeper in our lives. No matter how much the power of sin and its effect have flooded every area of our lives, salvation is possible for us the moment we make a complete turn around and embrace the mercy and love of God which He offers us every day. This is possible when we enter into the desert of our inner self to discover whom we are and what God intends for us and Lenten period that offers us that opportunity.

Beloved Parishioners,

May the peace, blessings, and healing grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ abide in each one of you and your families. This is another time of the year we thank God for what has been accomplished in our parish for the past one year through your generous support.

In the gospel passage of last Sunday, Jesus was seen in the Synagogue teaching with authority and casting out demons from a man under demonic influence and possession. In that, Jesus demonstrates His power over evil forces and demons. In today’s gospel reading He demonstrates His power over pain and sickness. We read that “when he came into Peter’s house, the mother-in-law of Peter was sick with fever and immediately they told Him of her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her.”