HE IS RISEN! ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!!! THE DISCIPLE SAW AND BELIEVED!

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The beloved disciple serves as a model for our faith in the resurrection. Different from Peter who entered the sepulcher and tried to analyze the place carefully, noticing the details, the beloved disciple realized that something very important had happened to the Master.

Dear Fellow disciples, peace.

The chief of the Roman soldiers recognizes the son of God in the crucified Jesus. He makes a confession of faith as a disciple. This was the intent of the evangelist Mark all along in his version of the gospel.

The centurion's confession passes through the contemplation of the crucified master, in whom he (and we) recognize the Son of God. He confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ.

In our last update in January of this year, we stated that the Feasibility Study for the Marian Center Renovation was well underway. We had received approval from the Diocese legal team to enter into a contract on the Athletic Field Relocation Study and were planning to meet with the Saint Rose ONE Building Committee to present the preferred alternative for the Master Plan Update. We also reported that we had completed some clearing on the 30-acre Nature Sanctuary and finalized a federal grant request for EPIC funds to clear out the underbrush on this property.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The desire of the Greeks, "We want to see Jesus", lacked some clarity. What kind of Jesus did they want to see? The miracle worker? The leader of the multitude? The Master who speaks things never heard before? The one who gives hope to those who despair? In short, what was in the minds and hearts of those foreigners?

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Nicodemus' visit at night allows Jesus to address a theme not only important to the disciples but to humanity. The predisposition we have to let ourselves be involved with darkness, even though the light is offered to us. Nobody is free from such risk.

Jesus is the Light the Father offers humanity. His witness of love, even to the extreme of his total surrender was enough to touch people's hearts. Was it? Many decided to tread the path of selfishness and favor injustice and evil with no regard for those who suffer.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

From the beginning of our Capital Campaign, we have strived to provide transparency. Our Finance Committee has advised on financial matters and the Parish Council has prioritized our initiatives. Together, we have ensured that all decisions have addressed the parish’s needs, reflected our mission and served our community effectively.

As we further navigate the financial aspects of this campaign, I want to reiterate some important information I shared in the bulletin last October – our original goal, though carefully calculated, was based on cost estimates from 2020 when we initially completed the Master Plan. Our continued research and discussions with architects have proven our assumption that we will need a significant increase in participation and funds to finish phases I and II.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The profanation of the temple of Jerusalem, with the commerce and exploitation of the poor dried up Jesus' patience. The gesture of throwing the money changers out of the sacred space comes from the sad realization that God's image had been distorted and profaned.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The contemplation of Jesus' transfiguration, during our Lenten journey, has a very precise reason. It is given to us to contemplate the Son who in a short time we will contemplate hanging on the cross. On Calvary, if we don't pay close attention, we can think of him as cursed by the Father, as his enemies would think and expect. Or as a disqualified criminal as the Romans would see and think about the crucified.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The tempter's focus was always to detract Jesus from his mission. He knew that getting Jesus to question his condition as Son of God, he could push him away from the mission of restoring the communion between God and humanity. What he didn't know was that Jesus would never give in. He would never disobey the Father, because being one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the plan and mission were also created and decided by him.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Jesus teaches solidarity with concrete actions, not with abstract discourses. It was up to the disciples to assimilate the message to practice it later.

The scene of the leper is typical in Jesus' life. The man on his knees declares, "If you want I can be cleaned!". This gives Jesus the chance to make public the desire he has in his heart. Jesus' desire is unanticipated by the leper's declaration. For in fact, Jesus desires to heal everyone from all their infirmities and doing so give back to them the joy of life.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Jesus' ministry is geared to spread goodness. His exhausting journeys and working days were marked by his service to those in need. That was one of many ways he attracted people. He was always available, and with compassion would attend to each and every one looking for his help. He refuses any temptation to return to a place and for a time for himself apart from his prayer time.