Easter 2021

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

Happy Easter! I'm so glad that we could celebrate in person this year and together marvel at our Lord's triumph over sin & death – His victory is the source of our salvation. His rising from the dead is the source of our hope – that we will follow Him and be resurrected into the life of glory in heaven. 

Easter is so important that it has an octave – meaning that Easter day lasts for 8 days. That means 8 days of feasting to celebrate our Lord's victory. 8 is a symbolic number that represents eternity because a week is 7 days and the 8th day is the transition beyond worldly time into eternity. That is why baptismal fonts traditionally have 8 sides, symbolizing baptism as the sacrament that enters one into eternity through the reception of God's very life (sanctifying grace). Let us celebrate for these 8 days of Easter the salvation Christ has wrought for us – that the doors to eternity, to heaven, are now open. We must follow Christ through that door by living a life of faith, hope, and charity. 

I'm going on retreat this Thursday and will return next Thursday. I'll see you all when I return!