In recent weeks, I injured my right shoulder and ribs.  I just reinjured my shoulder yesterday.  On Wednesday, I will see an orthopedic doctor for my shoulder.  (My ribs are healing on their own.)  So, if you see me protecting my right arm or wincing, you'll know why.

     We all need God's Divine Mercy from the healing of injuries to the forgiveness of our sins.  How fitting that we celebrate his mercy at the conclusion of the Easter Octave this Sunday.  We'll hear about mercy in the readings.  Before the 2 PM Mass, we'll pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  We also pray the chaplet every Friday during the 3 PM Holy Hour, remembering the hour of mercy in which Jesus died on the cross for us.  I'll be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that great sacrament of Divine Mercy.

     Our landscaper has begun fixing up the grounds.  The grounds needed a lot of work.  We took it easy last year because of the pandemic.  Now, we're slowly trying to make the grounds even better than 2019.

     We're replacing the sign in front of the church.  A new electrical conduit was run underground.  A cement foundation was placed where the new sign will go.

     We rearranged furniture in the foyer of the Parish Center.  Parishioners can now come to the office and be helped inside the foyer or new conference room (old chapel).

     Bishop O'Connell has written a helpful article on the precepts of the Church, especially the Easter duty.  See it here.  Normally, we are minimally required to receive Holy Communion once per year between Easter and Pentecost.  For those unable to do so because of the pandemic, you have until November 28th.  Hopefully by then, most of us can be back in church.  For the homebound, I would like us to start bringing Holy Communion to you.  I'm waiting for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to tell me or Joe Pittarelli they're fully vaccinated and willing to serve.  It would also help if the homebound were fully vaccinated.  Let's pray that everyone who chooses to get the shot can do so in the upcoming weeks.

     It's Friday.  Let's pray for one another's requests.

1)  For peace in Northern Ireland and Myanmar.

2)  For all those choosing to get the shot, may they be able to do so safely and easily.

3)  For those choosing not to get the shot, may they be kept safe too.

4)  For patience, prudence, and vigilance as we continue to open up our parish and our society.

5)  That the pandemic would wind down quickly.

God love you,

Fr. Jim