Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners,
 
As we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day and mark the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Responsorial Psalm which we sing fills us with great hope in the goodness of God. Many times in life we experience darkness and dismay which can cause us to become despondent. When these times occur we must remember that our God is with us and offers us a means to escape. We find this is the words associated with Divine Mercy, JESUS I TRUST IN YOU! The last sentence of today’s Psalm states: “ You changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks.” Yes, the Lord can transform the pain and anxiety we experience into joy and new life.
 
The Old Testament lection and the Gospel reading for today testify that the Lord is a God who brings LIFE and sustains it. God is the creator, the giver of life. The devil enticed humanity to choose evil and as a result death entered into the world bringing pain and chaos into our lives. Through the Holy Resurrection of God’s Only Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, death is no longer the final say! The Lord offers us new life, abundant life when we place our trust in Him. Yes, sorrow does become joy; morning is changed into dancing because death is changed into LIFE .
 
This week we mark the final graduation of Eighth Graders from both Sacred Heart of Jesus School and Saint Cecilia School . Both schools have served the Catholic community of Rockaway and beyond for over fifty years. On June 15th both schools will close their doors for the final time. I know that this is a sad time for both of our parishes but with this event comes the new life of a new school. Divine Mercy Academy will now serve our contemporary needs by combining our resources and launching us into an exciting future in Catholic education. The signature on the Divine Mercy image is JESUS I TRUST IN YOU.
 
By placing our trust in Jesus we are assured great blessings and graces in all our undertakings. The new life which comes forth from new projects and endeavors fills us with enthusiasm as we grow in our faith and service in the name of the One who has saved us, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
 
Yes, the old school year is rapidly coming to a close but we look forward to a new school year on the horizon. I am looking forward to the start of remodeling the former Saint Cecilia School building into the new Divine Mercy Academy which will begin next week. We are doing some alterations to accommodate the students and faculty for their new home in September.
 
In closing I would like to thank all those who attended Father Slawek’s First Mass last Sunday and for the kindness you showed him. Also, thank you for remembering Father Marcin (May 28 ^th ) and Father Mateusz (May 23 ^rd ) on their ordination anniversary. Your support and generosity for our young priests are signs of love and respect, for this I am most grateful.
 
God bless you!
Fr. Zig