From the Desk of Fr. AJ 3/31/2024

Mar 31

Written By St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church

Easter Blessings to you!
Our word "Easter" comes from Old English and simply means the "East." We love seeing the sun in the Springtime after a long winter-especially those of us who grew up in California! The sun which rises in the East, brings light, warmth, and hope into our lives. For us Catholic Christians, the sun is a symbol of the rising Christ, who is the true Light of the world. The Paschal Candle which we light during the Easter Vigil is a central symbol of this divine light, which is Christ.
We started our Holy Week in the sun as our youth ministry coordinated our Palm Sunday Procession led by our First Communicants. Our Children’s Choir and Adult Choir led us into this sacred time as we contemplated the Passion, Death and finally the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Holy Thursday we relived the Last Supper where Jesus instituted His great gift of the Eucharist which we receive at every Mass. We washed the feet of nine parishioners following Jesus’ example of selfless service.
On Good Friday we entered spiritually into the greatest act of love of all time, when Jesus-the innocent one-died for us, the guilty.
Finally, on Holy Saturday the Light of the World broke through the darkness of death. We celebrated the Easter Vigil and received Matthew L., Grace L., and Alba K. into our Catholic Faith through their Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.
What an amazing gift for each of us to witness what Jesus is doing in the lives of these three new Catholics!
I am so thankful to Chris Black, Martha M., Brenda M. and Gail S. for their efforts in preparing them over this year.
I am also grateful to Nicole Clermont for rallying some highschoolers to journey with our three new Catholics over this year. Thank you to Luke S., Giana C., John G., Grace L., and Declan K. for inspiring all of us as you gave selflessly of your time this year to work particularly with Matthew, Grace and Camilla!
I am so blessed to be here and to serve all of you here at St Peters’. I pray that the light of Christ’s Resurrection will fully illuminate each of your lives. From the entire staff and I, we wish you a very blessed and holy Easter!
In Jesus Christ Resurrected,
Father AJ