Alleluia!  This Easter proclamation that we repeat over and over again during the joyful Easter Season has a powerful meaning, one that we should all know and embrace.  It is a combination of two Hebrew words: “hallelu” (the plural imperative of “hallel”) which means “praise” and “yah,” the first half of the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh.  So, it literally means “everyone praise God!”  We should praise God always because of all the good he does for us every moment of our lives.  But Easter is the time for us […]

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”  (Lk 19:38).  On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God – and comes to offer a new way of life.  This week is, indeed, what we Christians call it: […]

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  This Saturday, Bishop Christopher Cooke confirmed 68 of our young parishioners who attend our school or PREP with the imposition of hands and anointing of the forehead. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, I will confirm eight adult parishioners with the same sacramental imposition of hands and anointing of the forehead.  This completed or will complete the initiation of all of these parishioners into the Church, which began at Baptism and was nurtured through the Eucharist.  These three sacraments – […]

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.

Be joyful, all who were in mourning;

Exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. (Is 66:10:11)

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, is also known as Laetare Sunday.  It gets this name from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon used at Mass without music; you will see it quoted above.  In Latin, the antiphon begins with the word “Laetare,” which, as you see above, translates into “Rejoice.”  As we quickly approach the end of Lent – next week […]