Pastor’s Corner — April 27th, 2025
Divine Mercy Sunday Service This Weekend
This Sunday (April 27th) at 3pm we will have our Divine Mercy Sunday Service–it’s one of my favorite little events. In the context of Eucharistic Adoration we go over the whole message and devotion of Divine Mercy and end with chanting the Divine Mercy Chaplet to complete the Divine Mercy Novena started on Good Friday.
Also on this day, the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence, which is the complete remission of temporal punishment due to sin. In addition to the usual conditions of a sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and a prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, a plenary indulgence is granted to faithful who, on Divine Mercy Sunday, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin (even a venial sin), simply recite the Our Father and the Creed, and also add a devout prayer (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!)
“No Phone” at Mass Challenge: A Reminder
Just a reminder: last year I issued a “No Phone” Challenge to the parish in which I encouraged the parish that unless you really need them at Mass (for an emergency or you are seriously using it for prayer), let’s not bring our phones into the church for Mass. If you absolutely need your phone on you in case of a family emergency, I suggest putting it on vibrate.
For the most part we’re doing much better this past year, but phones still go off. Now I am not naïve to think that this challenge will completely “solve” the problem of phones going off during Mass. After all, not everyone will read this and/or some will forget and phones will still go off. Nevertheless, it’s worth another reminder to sincerely try to avoid preventable distractions so we can more deeply pray the Mass as a parish.
First Communion Next Weekend
On Saturday this week (May 3rd) ninety-four children of our parish and school will be receiving their First Holy Communion. Please say a special prayer for them and their families. The Celebration of First Communion is always a powerful reminder of what a privilege it is for us to receive Holy Communion. To receive him who made us into our bodies, so we can be one with him! That’s the humble and loving God we so love and serve. May we never take going to Mass or receiving Holy Communion for granted.
Parents Who Have Close Relationships with Adult Children Did These Seven Things
As you know, I like to post helpful articles from time and again on family and cultural matters. Given the significant challenges in relationships in our culture, I would think an article on this topic would be helpful to parents and grandparents alike. The title of the short article is: “I’ve studied over 200 kids—parents who have the closest relationships with their adult kids do 7 things early on” The author is a conscious parenting researcher and found these seven habits of parents to be associated with keeping long-term relationships with their adult children:
1. Let them know their feelings matter
2. Choose connection over control
3. Give them a voice in their own life
4. Own your mistakes
5. Make quality time together a daily habit
6. Let them be themselves without judgment
7. Protect the relationship over being right
Of course, you’ll have to read the article to understand what she means by these. Nevertheless it’s true that you can be perfect parents and still not have good relationships with your children. Yes, you can have high standards for kids and connect with them deeply and these compelling tips are reminders of how to do that in our current culture.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias