The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord invites us to contemplate one of the most beautiful mysteries of our faith: Jesus returning to the Father, not to leave us behind, but to lift humanity to a new dignity. The Ascension is not an ending—it is a beginning. Christ rises to heaven so that we may follow where He has gone, and so that the Holy Spirit may come to strengthen the Church.

In the Gospel, Jesus commissions His disciples to preach, baptize, and witness to the Good News. This mission is not only for the apostles; it is entrusted to every believer. The Ascension reminds us that our faith is not passive. We are called to be active witnesses—through charity, forgiveness, and courage—bringing Christ’s presence into our families, workplaces, and communities.

The Lord’s departure also teaches us hope. Jesus does not abandon His people. Instead, He promises, “I am with you always.” His presence continues in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in the Church, and in every act of love. The Ascension lifts our eyes beyond the struggles of this world and reminds us that our true home is with God. Heaven is not a distant dream—it is the destiny Christ has opened for us.

As we celebrate this feast, may we renew our trust in God’s plan. Like the apostles, we may not always understand the path ahead, but we walk with confidence, knowing that Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father and sends the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, as You ascended into heaven, lift our hearts to seek what is above. Strengthen us with the Holy Spirit, that we may be faithful witnesses of Your love. May our lives reflect Your glory until we join You in the fullness of the Father’s kingdom. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

“I will not leave you orphans.” With these tender words, Jesus speaks directly to the deepest human fear: the fear of being abandoned. As He prepares His disciples for His departure, He does not promise a life free from struggle, but He promises something far greater—His enduring presence through  the Holy Spirit.

This Gospel reminds us that Christian faith is not about following a distant God. It is about living in relationship with a Lord who remains close, who accompanies, who consoles. Jesus knows the fragility of the human heart. He knows how easily we feel alone, overwhelmed, or forgotten. And so, He assures us: you are not abandoned; you are not on your own; I am with you.

The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, is the living presence of Christ within us. He is the quiet strength that helps us choose love when anger feels easier, forgiveness when resentment seems justified, and hope when despair whispers loudly. The Spirit teaches us to see God’s hand in ordinary moments—through the kindness of others, the peace found in prayer, the courage to do what is right.

Jesus also links love with obedience: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This is not a demand but an invitation. Love naturally expresses itself in action. When we keep His commandments—especially the command to love one another—we make space for His presence to dwell within us. We become living signs that God has not abandoned the world.

In this Easter season, we are reminded that the Resurrection is not only a past event but a present reality. Christ lives. Christ remains. Christ sends His Spirit so that we may never walk alone.

Today, let us hear His promise personally: in moments of fear, He is our peace; in moments of confusion, He is our guide; in moments of loneliness, He is our companion. Truly, He has not left us orphans.

Jesus will not leave us alone. He won’t make us children of God in Baptism only to leave us “orphans,” He assures us in today’s Gospel. We remain in this grace so long as we love Christ and keep His commandments. And, strengthened in the Spirit whom Jesus said would be our Advocate, we are called to bear witness to our salvation—to the tremendous deeds that God has done for us in the name of His Son.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, you promised that You would not leave us orphans. Send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen our hearts, guide our steps, and remind us that You are always nearby. Help us to love as You love, to live as Your disciples, and to trust in Your constant presence. Remain with us, Lord, today and always. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

By His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. His Father’s house is no longer a temple made by human hands. It is the spiritual house of the Church, built on the living stone of Christ’s body. As Peter interprets the Scriptures in today’s Epistle, Jesus is the “stone” destined to be rejected by men but made the precious cornerstone of God’s dwelling on earth.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” These words from Jesus are not merely a statement of identity—they are an invitation. In the midst of uncertainty, fear, and the many paths the world offers, Jesus speaks with clarity and tenderness. He does not simply show the way; He is the way. He does not merely teach truth; He is the truth. He does not just give life; He is the life.

To say that Jesus is the way means that our journey to God is not a maze of rules or a test of perfection. It is a relationship. We walk toward the Father by walking with Christ—imitating His compassion, trusting His guidance, and allowing His love to shape our choices. When we feel lost or overwhelmed, this Gospel reminds us that the path is not hidden. It is a person who walks beside us.

To say that Jesus is the truth means that in a world filled with conflicting voices, He remains the steady center. His truth is not cold doctrine but a living reality—revealed in mercy, forgiveness, and the dignity of every person. When we anchor ourselves in His truth, we learn to see the world as God sees it.

To say that Jesus is the life means that real, abundant life is found not in success or comfort but in communion with Him. His life flows into ours through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of love.

Today’s Gospel calls us to trust. Jesus assures us that He prepares a place for us, and that He Himself will lead us there. Our task is simple but profound: stay close to Him. Walk His way. Live His truth. Receive His life.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

In the Gospel, Jesus offers one of His most tender and protective images: “I am the gate for the sheep.” At first glance, it seems simple, even rustic. But for the early listeners, this image carried deep meaning. In ancient sheepfolds, the shepherd himself would lie across the opening at night. His body became the gate—nothing harmful could enter, and no sheep could wander off without passing over him. The shepherd’s very presence was the protection.

When Jesus calls Himself the gate, He is telling us that He is the way into safety, belonging, and abundant life. He is not a barrier but an opening—an invitation into the Father’s love. Through Him we enter a place where we are known, cherished, and guarded. In a world filled with competing voices, false promises, and spiritual noise, Jesus stands as the one true entrance into peace.

But Jesus is also the gate that leads us outward. Once we have entered His love, He sends us forth to pasture—to live, serve, and bear witness. The Christian life is not meant to be lived behind walls of fear. It is a life of movement, guided by the Shepherd’s voice, nourished by His grace, and strengthened by His Spirit.

This image is especially meaningful as we approach Confirmation on the 29th. Our young people are preparing to step more fully into the sheepfold of Christ and to walk confidently through the gate into their mission. The Holy Spirit will seal them, strengthen them, and guide them. They are not alone. Christ stands at the gate of their lives—protecting, calling, and sending. May they learn to recognize His voice above all others. May they trust that wherever He leads, life in abundance awaits.

May First is the First Friday of the Month—Adoration at 11am, Holy Mass/Anointing of the Sick at 12 noon, and following is the lunch served by the St. Andrew’s Table group. May 2nd is First Saturday, which is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother—7:30 am Adoration/Rosary and 8 am Mass.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd and the Gate of the sheepfold, draw us into the safety of Your love. Guard our hearts from all that harms, and lead us into the fullness of life You promise. We lift up all those preparing for Confirmation on the 29th. Fill them with Your Spirit, strengthen their faith, and guide their steps. May they always hear Your voice and follow You with courage and joy. Amen.

Love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley

The heart of today’s celebration is the quiet, transformative moment when the risen Christ walks beside the disciples on the Road to Emmaus. They are discouraged, confused, and unable to recognize Him. Yet Jesus draws near, listens to their disappointment, and gently opens the Scriptures. Only in the breaking of the bread do their eyes finally open. The story is a reminder that Christ often walks with us unnoticed, especially in moments of uncertainty. Recognition comes when our hearts burn with
renewed hope and when we gather at the Eucharist, where He reveals Himself again and again.

This coming Saturday we also honor St. Mark the Evangelist, whose Gospel is the earliest and most direct proclamation of the Good News. Mark writes with urgency, clarity, and conviction, echoing the Emmaus moment: the risen Christ is not distant but alive, active, and always going ahead of us. Mark’s bold witness invites us to proclaim Christ not only with words but with the authenticity of our lives.

Together, Emmaus and Mark teach us that faith grows through encounter—encounter with Scripture, with the Eucharist, and with the mission Christ entrusts to us. Like the disciples, we are sent to announce what we have seen and heard: that Christ is truly risen and walks with His people.

In every Eucharist, we reenact that Easter Sunday at Emmaus. Jesus reveals Himself to us in our journey. He speaks to our hearts in the Scriptures. Then at the table of the altar, in the person of the priest, He breaks the bread. The disciples begged Him, “Stay with us.” So, He does. Though He has vanished from our sight, in the Eucharist—as at Emmaus—we know Him in the breaking of the bread.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, open our eyes to recognize Your presence in our daily journey. Kindle in us the fire of Your Word and nourish us with Your Body and Blood. Through the intercession of St. Mark the Evangelist, make us faithful witnesses of Your Gospel. Strengthen our steps, deepen our hope, and send us forth with joy. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

The Second Sunday of Easter invites us into the upper room, where fear had locked the disciples behind closed doors. Into that fear, the Risen Jesus enters with a gift the world cannot give: “Peace be with you.” This peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of Christ—wounds and all—standing in the midst of His people.

Among the disciples is Thomas, absent on Easter night and struggling to believe the testimony of his friends. His doubt is not rebellion; it is the cry of a wounded heart longing for certainty. Thomas represents every believer who has ever wrestled with faith, every disciple who has prayed, “Lord, I want to believe—help my unbelief.”

When Jesus returns, He does not scold Thomas. Instead, He invites him: “Put your finger here…do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Jesus meets Thomas exactly where he is, offering His wounds as proof of love. And from Thomas comes one of the greatest confessions in all of Scripture: “My Lord and my God.”

This is not merely recognition—it is surrender. Thomas moves from doubt to adoration, from fear to faith, from questioning to proclaiming. This Sunday is also Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast born from the heart of Jesus Himself. The Gospel reveals that mercy is not an idea but a Person. The same Jesus who showed His wounds to Thomas now shows His wounded Heart to the whole world. His message is simple and urgent: “Do not be afraid to draw near to My mercy.”

Divine Mercy is God bending toward our weakness, lifting us from our failures, and restoring our dignity. It is the breath of Jesus that empowers the apostles to forgive sins. It is the river of grace that flows from His pierced side—blood and water—renewing the Church and healing the world.

Today, like Thomas, we are invited to touch the mercy of Christ and to respond with faith: “My Lord and my God.”

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, risen and merciful Savior, enter the locked rooms of our hearts and speak Your peace. Heal our doubts, forgive our sins, and draw us into the ocean of Your Divine Mercy. Like Thomas, may we recognize You in our midst and proclaim with love, “My Lord and my God.” Make us instruments of Your mercy to all we meet. Amen.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! As we gather to celebrate the glorious mystery of Easter, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy. The empty tomb proclaims the victory of life over death, hope over despair, and light over every darkness. Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, walks with us, renews us, and invites us to share in the new life He offers.

This Easter, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you who journeyed faithfully through the Lenten season. Your prayer, fasting, and acts of charity have strengthened our parish community and opened many hearts to God’s grace. I am especially grateful to everyone who participated in our Lenten services—those who attended the Stations of the Cross, joined our parish missions, prayed in adoration, and supported our outreach efforts. Your presence and devotion made this season truly meaningful.

Throughout Lent, we walked with Christ in the desert, listened to His call to conversion, and prepared our hearts for the Paschal Mystery. Now, as we stand before the empty tomb, we are reminded that no sin, no sorrow, and no burden is greater than the love of God. The Resurrection assures us that God is always doing something new, always bringing life where we least expect it.

May this Easter season fill your homes with peace, your hearts with hope, and your lives with the joy that only the Risen Christ can give. Let us continue to support one another, pray for one another, and walk together as a parish family renewed in faith.

Thank you for your generosity, your service, and your love for our parish. May the blessings of the Risen Lord be with you and your loved ones today and always.

Let us Pray: Risen Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with Your peace and our lives with Your joy. Renew our faith, strengthen our hope, and deepen our love. Bless our parish family and guide us always in Your light. Amen.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

Today we enter the holiest and most solemn week of our faith. Palm Sunday draws us into a profound mystery: we begin with hosannas and end with the Passion. The same Jesus who is welcomed with palms as King enters Jerusalem knowing that the road ahead leads to suffering, betrayal, and the Cross. Yet He goes forward freely, moved by love alone.

The crowds waving palms remind us of our own hearts—how easily we can praise God in moments of joy yet struggle to remain faithful in moments of trial. But Jesus remains faithful even when we are not. He rides into Jerusalem not to receive earthly glory, but to reveal the depth of God’s mercy. In His Passion, we see a love that refuses to turn back, a love that embraces the Cross so that we may have life.

Palm Sunday invites us to walk with Christ—not from a distance, but closely, step by step, through the sacred days ahead. Each moment of Holy Week is a gift, a doorway into the mystery of our salvation.

This week, our parish gathers to enter this mystery together:

April 1 at 6 PM – Seder Meal, recalling the roots of the Passover and the story of God’s saving covenant.
April 2 at 7 PM – Holy Thursday, with the Washing of the Feet, reminding us that love expresses itself in humble service. Adoration until 10 pm.
April 3 – Good Friday, with Outdoor Stations of the Cross at 3 PM and Veneration of the Cross at 7 PM, where we behold the wood on which hung our salvation.
April 4 – Holy Saturday, with Easter Food Blessing and Easter Egg Hunt both at 10 AM, and the Easter Vigil at 8 PM, the night when darkness is shattered by the light of Christ’s Resurrection.

Let us enter this week with open hearts, allowing Christ’s Passion to transform us and His Resurrection to renew us. Wish you all a very Holy and Prayerful Week.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, as we follow You from palms to Passion, give us the grace to remain close to You. Strengthen our faith, deepen our love, and prepare
our hearts for the joy of Easter. Lead us through the Cross into the fullness of Your Resurrection. Amen.

Love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley

As we enter the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Church places before us one of the most powerful signs of Jesus’ mission: the raising of Lazarus. This moment is not only a miracle—it is a revelation. Jesus stands before the tomb and declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” These words are not simply a promise for the future; they are a truth meant to transform our present. In Lazarus, we see every human heart that has known darkness, grief, or hopelessness. And in Jesus, we see the God who calls us out of every tomb.

Mary and Martha both respond to Jesus in their own ways. Martha meets Him with faith mixed with sorrow, yet she proclaims, “I believe that you are the Christ.” Mary approaches Him with tears, trusting that He understands her pain. Jesus receives both sisters with tenderness. He does not rush past their grief; He enters it. He weeps with them. And then He acts. Their story reminds us that faith is not the absence of sorrow—it is the courage to bring our sorrow to Christ and allow Him to speak life into it.

This week we also celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear the Son of God. In that moment, the Word became flesh, and the long-awaited Savior entered our world. Mary’s “yes” opened the way for the One who would later stand before Lazarus’ tomb and command life to return. Her faith made possible the very miracle we reflect on today.

As we draw closer to Holy Week, the raising of Lazarus invites us to trust that no situation is beyond God’s reach. The Annunciation reminds us that God is always drawing near, always entering our lives with grace.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, Resurrection and Life, call us out of every darkness that binds us. Through the intercession of Mary, who welcomed Your Word, and the faith of Martha and Mary of Bethany, strengthen our hope and deepen our trust. Bring new life to our hearts as we prepare for Easter. Amen.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley

Laetare Sunday invites us to rejoice, even in the midst of our Lenten journey. The Church pauses today to remind us that God’s grace is already at work, leading us from darkness into light. The Gospel of the man born blind beautifully captures this movement. He begins in physical darkness, but Jesus opens not only his eyes—He opens his heart. The deeper miracle is not simply restored sight, but the man’s growing recognition of who Jesus truly is. Step by step, he moves from calling Jesus “a man,” to “a prophet,” and finally to “Lord.” His journey mirrors our own: Lent is not merely about giving things up, but about allowing Christ to open our eyes to His presence, His truth, and His love.

This Sunday also falls near the Feast of St. Patrick, a man who once walked in the darkness of captivity but became a radiant bearer of the Gospel. Through hardship, he discovered the light of Christ and carried that light to an entire nation. His life reminds us that God can transform our wounds into sources of grace for others.

We also honor St. Joseph. The spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a quiet but powerful witness of faith. Joseph lived in the light of God’s will, even when he did not fully understand it. His obedience, humility, and protective love made him a guardian of Jesus and Mary. He teaches us that holiness often grows in silence, trust, and daily fidelity.

As we rejoice on this Laetare Sunday, we ask the Lord to open our eyes like the blind man, to strengthen our courage like St. Patrick, and to deepen our trust like St. Joseph. May we walk toward Easter with renewed hope, confident that Christ is our light.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, Light of the World, open our eyes to see Your presence in our lives. Through the intercession of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, strengthen our faith, guide our steps, and fill our hearts with Your joy. Lead us from darkness into Your marvelous light, now and always. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Charley