Good Shepherd Sunday

My Dear Parishioners,

Today as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day we also observe the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday is traditionally called, “Good Shepherd Sunday” due to the Gospel reading coming from the 10th chapter of John in which our Blessed Lord refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. We find “pastoral” themes throughout the Liturgy of the Word: in the Scripture periscopes, Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia Verse, and the orations during the Mass.
 
Indeed the Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who suffered greatly for His sheep, sacrificing Himself on the wood of the Cross to bring those who trust in Him to the everlasting pastures of Heaven. “For we had all gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” You have heard the voice of the Shepherd calling you to Himself in the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. Our weekly presence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a sign of our staying close to the Shepherd-King who nourishes us with His Body and Blood. He is the One who keeps us from evil and restores us to life by the power of His Holy Resurrection. He calls us but sometimes we ignore His summons and prefer to drift off into the dangerous places which will lead to our destruction. How foolish we are!!! We cannot let the secular-atheistic culture in which we live influence our lives. We must listen to the pastoral admonition of the Apostle Peter, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
 
Today is the WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS. The pastoral theme for today’s liturgy provides a wonderful opportunity for us to contemplate the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Call to Religious Life. We are called to pray for an increase of men for Holy Orders AND men and women for consecrated life. How grateful to God we are for JOSEPH BOYKOW, born and raised in Rockaway, AND Mateusz Darlak, assigned to Rockaway by the Bishop. Both of these young men will be ordained to the order of deacon on Saturday by Bishop Serratelli. God willing, both will be ordained to the order of priest next year. Their willingness to commit themselves in service to Christ’s Church is an inspiration and a blessing for us all.
 
We begin the month of May, the month dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. On Saturday, May 13, we observe the 100th anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady to the Three Shepherd Children in Fatima (Portugal). I cordially invite you to participate in the blessing of the outdoor statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary which will take place on Friday evening, the vigil of the feast, at 7:30 (Saint Cecilia Church). Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will take place, along with the praying of the Rosary and an outdoor candlelight procession with the blessing of the statue. The new statue of Our Lady in front of Saint Cecilia Church and the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of Sacred Heart Church are wonderful expressions of faith to all who pass by, for both faithful and atheists.
 
Christ is Risen!
Father Zig