A word from Pope Francis ~ “Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.”
Happy Memorial Day weekend! It does not seem possible that the first of our summer holidays is upon us. This holiday is most welcome!
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we continue our celebration of Easter with the feast of the Ascension. Traditionally, this feast was celebrated on the 40th day of Easter, which would have been last Thursday. Twenty-three years ago, our Bishops received permission to transfer the observance of the feast to the nearest Sunday. This had already been the practice in the western states of our country. The Bishops of the state of Illinois agreed to make the transfer, which took effect in May 2000. With the feast of Pentecost coming up next Sunday, we now move into the final days of the Easter Season.
During this final week of the Easter Season, we join with the Apostles and Mary as they waited for the Risen Lord to fulfill his promise to send the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit strengthens us in our efforts to be better disciples of the Lord and to put his values and teachings into practice more and more in our lives. St. Paul tells us that the gifts of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity” (Galatians 5:22-23). Wherever these gifts are found, the Spirit of God is present. Conversely, if we are lacking in any of these gifts, we have yet to fully open our hearts to the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives. Notice that St. Paul does not include anger, resentment, bickering, grudges, prejudice, or a judgmental and unforgiving heart among the gifts of the Spirit. These all come from another spirit. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Pentecost next Sunday, it is important that we pray for an outpouring of the true gifts of the Spirit upon ourselves, our parish and our larger church.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was initiated to honor the soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies who died during the American Civil War. Celebrations honoring Civil War heroes started the year after the war ended, but the establishment of a public holiday was meant to unify the celebration as a national day of remembrance instead of a holiday celebrated separately by the Union and Confederate states. By the late 19th century, the holiday became known as Memorial Day and was expanded to honor the deceased veterans of all the wars fought by American forces. In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday and was given the floating date of the last Monday in May. This holiday gives us the opportunity to pray for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is an important day for us to remember them.
Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated in the Church at 9:00 am on Monday. Please note the time of the Mass – we normally celebrate one Mass on civil holidays at 9:00 am. This is a perfect way for us to observe the holiday. Parish Offices will be closed on Monday for the holiday.
Welcome home to our college students who have made their way home following spring semester exams. It is good to have you back home. Congratulations to those who have graduated over the past few weeks! This is a great time in your life. Celebrate it well.
Have a blessed and safe holiday weekend. Enjoy the beauty of the spring season. May God continue to bless us with all that we need, and more.
Father Jim Murphy