Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dear Epiphany Family,
Congratulations and blessings to our eight young people who were confirmed this past Saturday and our 10 children who received their First Holy Communion this past Sunday! It is a great joy for me as a pastor to see our children draw closer to Jesus and deeper life with Him through the sacraments. I was very blessed to confirm my second group of young people since I arrived this past July. Normally only the bishop or a few priests specially delegated by him administer the sacrament of confirmation, but the pandemic changed things. Next year we are scheduled to take our young people back to the cathedral to be confirmed by Bishop Thomas (April 30, 2022). Please keep our children who made their First Communion, our newly confirmed young people, and all of their families in your prayers that they continue to grow in their life in and with Jesus.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! We give God thanks and praise for the beautiful gift of mothers, and how much His love and care has been reflected in and through their lives. In this month of Mary we also give thanks for the gift of our Blessed Mother and also how our mothers reflect her love. We also pray for the eternal rest of the beloved mothers who have gone before us as well as healing and consolation for those who mourn them. We ask Mary’s prayers for all mothers:
Mary, on this day when we honor all mothers, we turn to you. We thank the Lord whom you serve for the great gift of motherhood. Never has it been known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided by grace. Dear Mother, thank you for your “Yes” to the invitation of the angel which brought heaven to earth and changed human history. You opened yourself to God’s word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Dear mother, intercede for all of our mothers. Ask your Divine Son to give them the grace of surrendered love so that they could join with you in giving their own “Fiat.” May they find daily strength to say yes to the call to the sacrificial love- the very heart of the vocation of motherhood. May their love and witness be a source of great inspiration for all of us called to follow your Son.
On this Mothers day, Mother of the Word Incarnate, pray for us who have recourse to you. Amen.
In Christ,
Father Eric