Happy Easter! We have celebrated this Sacred Paschal Triduum together as a parish family. We have recalled the Institution of the Lord's real presence in the Eucharist and accompanied him in his betrayal and unjust trials. We have stood at the side of the cross and participated in his burial. We have heard the history of the Lord's saving actions last night and witnessed as two children have passed through the waters of baptism to share in the life of Christ and his Church. We have dispelled the darkness of death and burial and rejoiced in the bright blaze of the Lord's resurrection. On Easter Sunday, we renew our faith that sin and death and all the powers of evil and oppression will not prevail. We trust that in sharing Christ's dying, we too can share in his rising.

Lent ends when we begin the celebration of the Lord's Supper at 6:00 on Holy Thursday evening. This is the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum (the three days from Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday evening). You are invited to remain in prayer after Mass, and I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation again. Please come to the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday afternoon at 1:00, followed by the praying of the Stations of the Cross with Deacon Mel in the parish hall and the offering of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in church. By all means, join us for the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening at 9:00.

In this third installment explaining the Sacred Paschal Triduum, we come to the highpoint of the Sacred Paschal Triduum: the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. We begin the liturgy after sunset outside. We light the fire and bless it, reminding us that the bright light of the Lord's Resurrection has shattered the darkness of death. We bless the new Easter Candle and walk in procession into the darkened church. Deacon Mel sings the Exsultet, the ancient hymn proclaiming the resurrection. Then we listen to seven Old Testament readings, telling the history of salvation. The word "Vigil" refers to the proclamation of the Word of God. Then the Gloria is sung, followed by a reading from Saint Paul to the Romans. The Alleluia returns, and the Gospel according to Saint Luke is proclaimed. Following a very short homily, we will renew our baptismal promises and baptize two children. As the Israelites passed through the waters of the Red Sea, these children will pass through the waters of death to rise to new life in Christ. After the Universal Prayer, we celebrate the Eucharist, breaking our Paschal Fast. Sent out to live the Mystery we have celebrated, we gather to feast the richness of Easter joy with our families.

Next Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. There has been a tradition to veil all statues in purple on this Sunday, ushering in the two weeks of Passiontide. So, when you arrive next Sunday, don't freak out when you see our statues veiled in purple. We will fast from even our most sacred images.

I want to use this space in these next three Sundays to encourage everyone to set aside time to celebrate the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the shortest and most important three day Liturgical Season. It runs from Holy Thursday evening until Easter Sunday evening. This week, let's focus on Holy Thursday.

Thanks to all of you who took advantage of our participation in the Diocesan program last Tuesday, "The Light Is On For You." Many of you took advantage of the invitation and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Your response was heartwarming. Thanks also to Deacon Mel and Annie for leading prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Thanks also to Wendy Summers, our Sacristan, who did all the behind-the-scenes work. I hope to make the Sacrament more available. In particular, we will offer the Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, and also after the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday.

Our parish got off to a good start into Lent with the 6:00 evening Mass on Ash Wednesday. On the night before, we had a great celebration of Mardi Gras. The gumbo was great, the company was very encouraging, and the fundraising effort supported those who are working for the canonization of Father Augustus Tolton. Many thanks to all who prepared the feast, cleaned up, and participated.

Please join us on Tuesday evening from 5:30 - 7:30 for our annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser. It will be a fun evening, and the proceeds will benefit the ongoing cause for sainthood for Fr. Augustine Tolton. We will celebrate Mass on the following day, Ash Wednesday, at 6:00 to begin the Forty Days of Lent together. Every family is welcome to take a copy of the Little Black Book from the Diocese of Saginaw. Reading the daily meditations is a great way to help us through this Sacred Season.

The Season of Lent begins the next day on Ash Wednesday, March 5. We will celebrate Mass at 6:00 on that evening, with the distribution of ashes to mark our foreheads to mark us as participants in the 40 Days of Lent. Please make every effort to join us for Mass, as we enter into a Season with so many potential graces. Also, the parish has ordered 100 copies of the Little Black Book from the Diocese of Saginaw. Hopefully, there will be one copy of this helpful guide to daily Lenten prayer for each family.

After meeting with members of Parish Council and the Finance Council, we formed a small committee to list the tasks that need to be accomplished at Saint Augustine. We are in the process of asking people to assume some of these responsibilities. We will publish those tasks. Please pray over the gifts God has given you and consider offering them in humble service to the parish. Also, please keep Nancy Takach in your prayers. She fell a couple of weeks ago and is in the process of recovering. She serves as our Business Manager and takes care of our finances.

Greetings Saint Augustine Parishioners: I've had a chance to meet with the members of the Parish Finance Council and the Parish Pastoral Council. Their hard work behind the scenes keeps the mission of Saint Augustine Parish going well. I have also met with Nancy Takach, who serves as Business Manager, and Deacon Mel Tardy. I continue to look forward to meeting all the members of the parish, as all of us reflect on the gifts and talents God has given us to serve the common good.

Thank you for your patience during my absence. Skiing was great, and the weather at first was very cold. But we had a good time together, and I'm anxious to begin my term as pastor (or more accurately administrator). Being away gave me an opportunity to see the history of our parish on the website. I pray that I can provide the leadership in these next few months to keep the spirit moving here.

It is very cold here in Colorado. But I remain grateful for the good health that allows old guys like me to continue to enjoy the sport of skiing. I am scheduled to return on Saturday evening, February 1. But knowing the ups and downs of winter travel, Father Augustine is on deck to take the Mass next Sunday, just in case.

Thank you for your very warm welcome last Sunday. I am so sorry that I will be away for these next two weeks. I had scheduled the time away last year, counting on my new status as a retired priest. As you know, that has changed. I am grateful to Father John Santone for all the ways he has organized the administration of Saint Augustine. But, for me, it is a daunting task. Although I had served as pastor of two large parishes in the last forty years, I never had to deal with some of these administrative tasks. So, in my absence, please contact Deacon Mel Tardy if you need help or have any questions. Once returned, I will have time to figure all of this out.

I am honored that Bishop Rhoades has appointed me as Administrator of Saint Augustine and look forward to celebrating Mass with you this Sunday. I have been retired since July 1 and will serve at Saint Augustine until June 4, when Bishop Rhoades will be able to appoint a more permanent pastor.

This week I was reading an article about the decline in church attendance and the closing of parishes. The article focused on the process taking place in the Diocese of Buffalo (NY), while also reflecting on how this is not a “Catholic problem” but a reality for all faiths.

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome marking the beginning of the Year of Hope, the 2025 Jubilee Year. This special year will end on January 6, 2026. Bishop Rhoades has designated six churches as Jubilee sites in the diocese. In our area those churches are St. Pius X (Granger), St. Matthew Cathedral (South Bend), and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Notre Dame). In designating these sites, Bishop Rhoades said, “The faithful of the diocese are invited to visit our jubilee churches during the Jubilee Year where they can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence by devoutly participating at Mass or making a pious visit for Eucharistic adoration and meditation with particular prayers … another condition of receiving the indulgence is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, though that does not have to be at the jubilee site.”

There’s a large mosaic over the front entrance of the Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas with three figures: Penance, Prayer and Peace. I was struck by this image as we move into the final days of Advent and prepare for the great solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. I offer those words as a spiritual meditation for your personal reflection this week.

Every Tuesday morning, I celebrate Mass at a local nursing facility. I’m always humbled when I see the residents gathering. There are those who walk in on their own with the assistance of a walker or cane. In the first row is a gentleman who sits next to his mother. There are a number in wheelchairs who are brought in by the nursing staff. And then there are those whose memory is fading and have a caregiver sitting next to them. It’s a beautiful sight of God’s children coming together for prayer.

Do you take the time each day to “give thanks to the Lord?” Are you finding time to list all that has happened between waking and sleeping to thank the Lord for another day, your family, caring friends, the food on your table, good health, and your faith? Are you sitting in silence to acknowledge that we have comes from God who is love?