First, THANK YOU so much to those who have given the great “going away” gift of joining this campaign with Operation Underground Railroad: https://my.ourrescue.org/fundraisers/fr-bearers-goodbye-gift. If you’re wondering what you might get me as a “thank you,” search no further! Rejoice! Helping this non-profit organization end human trafficking is exactly the gift I desire from you. Please share the link with others you think might be interested, too.
Jesus’ death and resurrection did more than wash away our guilt to squeeze us through the narrow gate into heaven. Praying with John 16:7 helps widen the horizon of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection because Jesus states, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.” With this, Jesus shows us that he dwelt among us for a specific time and for a specific purpose and that after his ascension the very Holy Spirit of God will come and fill us. Jesus cleanses us to remake us as his Temple in order to then fill us with his Holy Spirit! “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). That “high price” we celebrate during Holy Week! But, the trajectory of Easter - with the Ascension - directs us to receiving the promised Gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). To help us enter into the full mystery of our salvation and pray to receive more of that Gift of our heavenly Father, we have a few important opportunities at our parish.
EASTER MISSION
Praying for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and for Healing will be at the heart of this Easter mission. I will be offering the talks and leading the prayer of these days. It will be an awesome time of praise and worship. Here’s the dates and times and a sketch of the theme for each evening:
APRIL 25 (Sunday) from 7PM until 8:30PM: Jesus Our Victory
APRIL 26 (Monday) from 7PM until 8:30PM: More of the Holy Spirit
APRIL 27 (Tuesday) from 7PM until finished: Praying for Healing
Please know: these evenings are not Masses and are not Anointing of the Sick prayers, so invite your non-practicing Catholic family/friends and/or non-Catholic family/friends/neighbors to join either in person or together by live-stream!
MEN’S RETREAT
Entering into the call and gift of manhood and fatherhood through work and prayer: The annual parish Men’s Retreat is happening this year at Loyola Retreat House in Green starting with dinner on May 7 (Friday) and concludes the afternoon of May 8 (Saturday). See the bulletin and/or call the rectory to register (which is FREE, by the way). We will be taking serious time to ask for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives and to then put that gift to work helping Loyola with a few work projects. If you can only come for one of the days, JOIN.
THANK YOU
Spread the word about these opportunities!
Peace,
Fr. Jacob Bearer
