Mother’s Day

Dear Epiphany Family,

Congratulations to our new confirmed youth as well as our children who received their First Communion this past weekend! What a beautiful weekend of God sharing His life and love through these amazing sacraments! We are so abundantly blessed as Catholics to have such gifts in which God draws us into deeper communion and relationship with Him. Seeing the joy in our youth and families helps us remember this and not take these tremendous gifts or relationship with God for granted. It was such a blessing for me as a pastor to celebrate these sacraments. It is likely I will never celebrate a Confirmation for youth again in my priesthood as normally this is only done by a bishop or a priest who has a diocesan office and is specifically delegated by the bishop. During the pandemic and still yet this spring Bishop Thomas granted faculties to do so. Next year we plan to do a group Confirmation with the bishop again at the cathedral and help our youth and families remember that we are part of a Church which is larger than just our parish.

Each year we do interviews with our confirmation students and I have been impressed with their response to God and desire to know Him more deeply. This is a desire that God plants in each of us, no longer how young or old we might be. When we respond to this desire and His call for us we find peace, hope, and all that we need.

Also this past Tuesday we had our priests’ jubilee celebration for priests celebrating 25 years, 50 years, 60 years, and 70 years of priestly ministry with a Mass and dinner. I am thankful for these events and the faithful service of my brother priests. Please continue to keep me and all priests in prayer as we strive to stay close to Jesus and draw others to Him.

In Christ,
Father Eric

1 Peter 2:4-5
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, you provide for all our needs and love us with infinite, merciful love. You never abandon us but are ever-present, giving us hope now and for the future. We thank and praise you for the heritage of the original East Toledo parishes and their witness to you.
We are your living stones built upon the Living Stone of Jesus.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us, our whole Epiphany family, and all of East Toledo,
that we may be guided and given wisdom to do your will in all things.
Inspire us to grow as disciples of Jesus, helping us to be true living stones,
building one another up and more closely united in the Living Stone of Jesus.
Help us be good stewards of all you have shared with us and honor our past.

Guide our discernment and give us courage to make decisions that will make our parish fruitful.

Help us, as living stones, to share the Living Stone of Jesus with all, building your Kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus the Good Shepherd, have mercy on us
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us
St. Louis, pray for us
St. Stephen of Hungary, pray for us
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us

To view the live stream Mass on Facebook - Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm, click here