This weekend’s collection is for the Diocese of Austin Seminarian Appeal. Thank you for continuing to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. Our diocese hopes to have nearly 60 studying to be diocesan priests this fall.

This Sunday, the Knights of Columbus will hold its monthly BBQ in support of Honduras Good Works. The Knights will be in the Courtyard after 7:30 a.m. Mass. 

The Ladies Club & Krafty Ladies are having a Bake Sale in the Courtyard after the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass. On Sunday, they will have a Bake Sale and Spring Craft Sale after the morning Masses. Stop by for delicious home-baked goods and homemade crafts.

On Sunday, April 27, we will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the church with adoration, scripture, silent prayer, benediction and the singing of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy – all in just over an hour. All are welcome.

In honor of St. Catherine of Siena’s feast day on Tuesday, April 29, all are invited to join the Lay Missionaries of Charity to assemble packed lunches at 10:00 a.m. in Siena Hall for the Sunrise Homeless Center. Not required, but if you like, you can bring some easy to pack treats (chips, bars, small fruits, chocolates, cheese sticks, etc.) to add to the lunches.

We will celebrate a memorial Mass for Pope Francis this Tuesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the church.

If you have lost a loved one, you are invited to join a 6-week grief support group on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon beginning May 7, led by Lori Kruczek. Register on our website or contact Evelyn in the Parish office. 

All are invited to the Diocesan Holy Hour for Vocations on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin.

Things moved very quickly after Easter. Imprinted in our memory is the sight of the dead Jesus on the cross. I will never forget the look of Mary as she held her Son in her arms. I can still hear her crying. People dragged themselves away. Then there was news very quickly. Jesus has risen from the dead just like He prophesied. They said that the tomb was empty. I suspect lots of visitors stayed a little longer in Jerusalem. All of these events took place in the middle of Passover when the city of Jerusalem was filled with visitors. It was not time yet to go home. People stood about wondering what was going to happen next. The Acts of the Apostles testifies. “Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles.” Miraculous things were happening all over the place. We are told that great numbers of people believed because of what they saw. They were eager to listen to the testimony of the Apostles. Before this, I was just a spectator but now I want to know more. I feel privileged to hear these Apostles speak. The power of God moves so powerfully among them that even the shadow of Peter brings healing to the sick. Huge events happened in the Upper Room. Witnesses testified that the Lord Jesus appeared to His Apostles upstairs in that Room. I think I would be frightened. We are afraid of things we don’t understand. The Apostles are all beaten down and silent. There is nothing to say. Peter must have felt ashamed of himself. After all his bleating about how he would never deny the Lord, when the moment came he cowered in the corner. Then suddenly a light came. Then suddenly the Lord was standing in their midst. He said, “Peace be with you.” That must have been amazing. The room is filled with the grace and power of God swirling about them. Great transformation is happening to the Apostles. God is breathing His power upon them. Jesus told them, “I send you forth. Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive they are forgiven. Whose sins you retain they are retained.” Thomas misses the whole thing. He must have felt disappointed. How often we said to those who were not there, “You should have been there! It was amazing!” Thankfully Thomas gets his private moment. Jesus told Thomas, “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Oh, if only it were that simple. I guess we spend the rest of our lives trying to figure that one out.

With love,

Fr. Pat

Sanctuary Lamps: Sign up online to have a Sanctuary Lamp lit for a week for a special intention. Your name and intention will be published in the bulletin and our weekly Flocknote. Suggested donation is $10.