A reading from the Acts of the Apostles: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.”

What would this kind of life be like? Where a community was of one heart and mind? A world where people took care of each others’ needs, and thought first of the greater good—rather than their own personal gain. We cannot imagine a life like this in our country, our culture and our society; but by our Baptism, this is our call! Whoever said it would be easy to be a disciple of Jesus?

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. When we love God by keeping His commandments, all is easier, and we will live in the peace of Christ. It all sounds so simple: this Divine Mercy that God has for us and we must share, but so difficult for us to give to each other. And yet, our mandate is clear: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” In the First Reading (Acts) we are told that in bearing witness to Jesus, we will be accorded great favor. And what could be better than eternal life? 

So what is the property that each of us should distribute to our Community? Time, talent and treasure! (PS: Thank you, and may God bless you Music Ministry!) In Divine Mercy we are given so much, and in Divine Mercy we gift back—we must share in turn what we were given. There should be no “needy” among us—and the reward is the peace of Christ. 

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Christ is Risen!  Indeed, He is Risen!  Christ’s Resurrection from the dead is not a pious fiction or a myth outside of time.  No.  All of time and space has been transformed by the saving Death and Resurrection of Christ.  The benefits of this historic event of over two-thousand years ago continue to positively affect us today; we are invited to plunge into this drama of dying and rising by cleaving to Christ.  He is the only answer to the tragic reality of suffering and death.  We have to suffer the death-throes of all that is contrary to God’s purposes, but through Christ we know there is victory and fulfillment.  I came across the following poem several months ago and wanted to share it with you at our next celebration of Easter, for it incapsulates in a way that only a poet can, my clumsy musings.

​Happy Easter!

David J. Conrad

I must believe that You rose from the dead
For if You didn’t, then what hope is there
To raise me from the gutter of despair
Out of the sod from which we all were bred?
Made in your image, when we forfeited
Our innocence in Eden for a share
Of Knowledge, we were stubbornly aware
That we were naked, doomed to earn our bread.
I’ve spent too many years on Calvary
Watching great loves disintegrate in death,
Waiting to hear their final, labored breath
To see them rest unchained from agony.
Sweet Jesus, let some angel roll the stone
Out of my heart to see that we have won.

    - Mary-Patrice Woehling​

I am bragging here.  I gave up lots of things, but only for a little while.  I kept moving the goalpost by saying things like, “except on Sundays.”  Nothing I gave up lasted until this bulletin deadline, let alone Easter, and still I am entering the Easter Season probably the most transformed by Lent that I can ever remember.

How did I do it?  It was simple.  I went to youth ministry every Monday.  Ok, I also prepared to present at youth ministry.  This month we covered prayer every week.  We learned to pray unceasingly, how to make time for prayer, actual prayer practice and about the greatest prayer ever, Mass.  I did not start Lent giving up rap music while driving, but I ended Lent this way, because that drive time was perfect for some chats with God and the other voices in my head.  I did not start Lent asking for strength for the day as I tied my shoes and poured my coffee, but I ended Lent doing so because it really is possible to pray unceasingly.  I did not start Lent thinking communicating with God was what I needed to do all the time, but by the end of Lent the Holy Spirit was whispering in my ear every day.

I have to say, as Lenten practices go, this was the simplest one; adding prayer.  I learned how to do it by finding enriching videos, getting daily reflections in my emails and… preparing for youth ministry.  Once I got into it, it really did not take up a whole lot of time. Paying attention to God working in my life exploded by the end. And if I was being honest, I really could have tried harder.  Thank God for Lent 2019.

Take some advice from a Saint. “You don’t know how to pray?  Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you have already begun.” – St. Josemaria Escriva

Happy Easter!

Paul Pyrkosz

Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Today is Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord! He is risen! He is risen, indeed! The truth that is proclaimed this morning (and spectacularly at the Vigil last night) is that Christ has broken through the boundaries of sin and death forever. Christ breaks through the boundaries—the limits of the tomb—and saves us and sets us free, too. This is truly amazing grace! This is a great reason to celebrate and remember the mysteries of our faith!

All of our living includes boundaries and limits. We have rules and regulations and rituals for everything we do—and this is not a bad thing. It helps to keep the normal chaos of everyday life and Murphy’s Law at bay. We are all limited by our abilities: be they physical, mental, or emotional. We are limited by our humanity, our nature and our instincts. But: we are also temples of the Holy Spirit, and with God’s grace we may extend our own personal boundaries as Christ extends our spiritual and eternal ones.

Today we rejoice in this day that the Lord has made; we rejoice that Christ has broken the chains of death and sin. In the Eucharist we join heaven and earth in praise of God, and with all the angels and saints in heaven we sing Alleluia, Glory to God and Hosanna to the Highest! There are no boundaries in praise of the God of Mercy. We experience a foretaste of heaven here on earth! 

The stone is rolled away, and I know that my redeemer liveth! God has blessed us all! 

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

PS. I pray in particular for blessings for all of the members of the St. Aidan Music Ministry, for great appreciation and thanks for their continuing witness of faith and commitment to this parish. May God bless you all for your hard work, extra rehearsals, practice and love in order to tell the story of our faith so well to God’s people. There are no boundaries in your generosity and kindness; you give great Glory to God!