From Father George's Desk 4/19/26

hank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who helped make the celebration of Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum in our parishes so fantastic! A huge shout out to Bob Mason, our coordinator of liturgical music, and all of our music ministers who put in so much extra time preparing, rehearsing, and being present for these sacred liturgies. Our choir combined with St. Rose’s did a fantastic job at the Tenebrae service. Thank you all for sharing your gifts with our parish. Thanks also to all of the rest of our liturgical ministers; thank you for giving of your time and talent so generously. Thanks to all who helped decorate and prepare our worship spaces for Easter. I am also most grateful for the assistance and ministry of Deacon Mike and Holy Family parishioner and diocesan seminarian Thomas Oldenburg in planning for and celebrating the liturgies of the Triduum. Finally, I must say that I continue to be so edified and gratified by prayerful spirit of everyone at all of the liturgies throughout the week. Our parishes’ observance and celebration of these most sacred of days has been a most fitting expression of faith. As we continue our celebration of the Easter Season, I pray that may continue to hear and respond to the call of the Risen Christ in our lives and so grow together. And, on a personal note, I am most grateful to everyone who remembered me this Easter with cards, gifts and goodies. I am not very good at getting out thank you cards in a timely manner, but I do want you to know that I am so very grateful for the generosity shown to me from so many. Please be assured of my continued prayers for you throughout the Easter Season and always. Welcome and congratulations our baker’s dozen of newest parishioners who were welcomed into the Church through the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Three youngsters were baptized and will celebrate the other sacraments of initiation when they reach the appropriate age: Quinlan Johnson, Tamara O’Barto, and Emma O’Barto. Our Elect—Saoirse Marie Johnson, Kassidy Lynn Shaffer, and Michael Anthony Quinn—and our candidates—Ella Rose Baldoneri, Sophie Renee Baldoneri, Hannah Nicole French, Maddox Baker Scaffardi, Logan Gene Skuta, Cameron Thomas Tillman, and Brynn Charlotte Zangaro—have been faithfully preparing for this day since last summer. It was my pleasure to be able to celebrate the sacraments with them and welcome them into the full sacramental life of the Church. Big thanks to Deacon Mike and the entire OCIA and OCIC teams— catechists and sponsors—who have been so generous with their time and sharing the journey with our newly initiated. The Easter Season is also a time for those in this year’s sacramental preparation programs to celebrate the sacraments they have been preparing for. Next Sunday at the 10:30 Mass at Holy Family, 14 of our young parishioners will be receiving their First Holy Communion and eight of our parishioners were among the 66 who received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Kulick at St. Vincent Basilica on April 9. Please keep these young parishioners and their families in your prayers as they celebrate these important milestones in their journeys of faith, that they may remain ever close to the Risen Christ. Our 2026 Diocesan Lenten Appeal keeps rolling along...  Both parishes have now passed their diocesan targets! That means that everything we collect for the remainder of this year’s appeal will be returned to the parishes, assessment-free so that we can get to work on our parish projects…  Holy Family has received a total of $98,342 in pledges and gifts (76% of the parish goal). Our parish share is designated to replace the locks on the church and rectory and repair the handicapped lift in the Divine Artwork Center.  St. John has received a total of $34,440 in pledges and gifts (78% of the parish goal). Our parish share is designated to upgrade the handicapped entrance into the parish hall and to begin replacing other aging, rusty entry doors in the parish center.  Thanks to everyone who has already made a pledge or a gift to this year’s appeal. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!  Please prayerfully consider your pledge or gift to this year’s DLA in the coming days. You may return your pledge or gift by mail, in person during office hours, drop it in the collection basket, or online