Dear Parishioners,

A word of welcome on this Easter Sunday to all our visitors to the Cathedral Basilica Parish. I hope you find this to be a welcoming community and feel at home. You are always welcome.

From ancient times, the liturgy of Easter day has begun with the words:
Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum – "I arose, and am still with you". The
liturgy sees these as the first words spoken by the Son to the Father after
His resurrection, after His return from the night of death into the world
of the living.

These words are taken from Psalm 138 where, originally, they had a
different meaning. Psalm 138 is a song of wonder at God’s
omnipotence and omnipresence, a hymn of trust in the God who never
allows us to fall from his hands. The Psalmist imagines himself
journeying to the farthest reaches of the cosmos – and what happens to
him? “If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol,
You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your
right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Let only darkness cover me’…, even
the darkness is not dark to You…; for darkness is as light with You.”
(Ps 138:8-12)

On Easter day, the Church tells us that Jesus Christ made that journey to
the ends of the universe for our sake. In the Letter to the Ephesians we
read that He descended to the depths of the earth, and that the One who
descended is also the One who has risen far above the heavens, that He
might fill all things (cf. 4:9ff.). The vision of the Psalm thus became
reality.

But these words of the Risen Christ to the Father have also become
words which the Lord speaks to us: “I arose and now I am still with
you,” He says to each of us. “My hand upholds you. Wherever you may
fall, you will always fall into My hands. I am present even at the door of
death. Where no one can accompany you further, and where you can
bring nothing, even there I am waiting for you, and for you I will change
darkness into light.”

Many thanks to everyone who has made our Easter celebrations here at the Cathedral so beautiful, from our choirs to those who decorated church. I am so grateful to you for sharing your time and your talents with our parish.

Blessings and congratulations to the 18 men and women who became fully initiated into the Catholic Church during the Cathedral’s Easter Vigil, either by baptism or by profession of faith. Our prayers follow them all as they continue to walk with the Lord in their life-long journey of faith.

Next Sunday, April 11, we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy, a feast day added to the liturgical calendar by St. John Paul II to celebrate the overwhelming mercy of Jesus Christ. In recognition of this very special day, the Cathedral Basilica will observe a special devotion for Divine Mercy, beginning with celebration of the noon Mass with Archbishop Rozanski and concluding at 3:00 p.m. with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction.  During the hours of prayer between Mass and Benediction, several confessors will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

To build on the momentum of the recent 40 Days for Life campaign and prayer vigil, the Cathedral’s Pro-Life Ministry is seeking volunteers to be part of shaping and growing this ministry. Please see your bulletins for more information.

Just a quick reminder that masks are to be worn at all times while in the Cathedral Basilica (except for the reception of Holy Communion).  It is important that the mask covers both your nose and your mouth to prevent the spread of a virus.