World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Today we pray for vocations worldwide in the Catholic Church. My brother priests and I have been called to guide our flock in spirit and mercy. We do this to help our flock grow in faith and prayer through many ministries. We are also called to feed our flock. Through the Eucharist and the Word of God, we nourish our flock with the greatest gifts Jesus has given us. Jesus was the Good Shepherd who guided and fed his flock.

The priesthood and religious life have called some of us to sacrifice family and some earthly comforts for a life of obedience and chastity. May we pray, on this day of prayer for vocations, that Our Lord gives our men and women the courage and zeal to hear the call of serving Him in religious life.

Amen? Amen!
Fr. Jamie

Pastor's Ramblings

EASTER BASKET BLESSING: Following Morning Prayer on Holy Saturday, I did an old Polish Easter basket blessing for some of our parishioners (photo 1). I thought it was such a nice idea that I got my Easter food together and created a basket myself! The idea is to have all of your Easter meal foods blessed. I’m glad we finally got to do one of these blessings, and I hope to have it grow each year.

CONGRATULATIONS! We had a convalidation after the Easter Vigil Mass. After her baptism and coming into the Catholic Church, Amanda Rey Fitzpatrick wanted to make sure her marriage was a sacrament, so she asked if Fr. Jason could convalidate her marriage right after the Easter Vigil. All of the other RCIA members who had also come into the Church were there to help celebrate another wonderful sacrament for this wonderful couple. 1

FLOWERING CROSS: Every year I see people excited about filling our flowering cross in the front of church. People love to stop by and take a picture next to it and help fill it with flowers. It’s a wonderful tradition that I hope to continue.

NOON EASTER MASS: A big thank-you to all of the priests who helped make this Easter season a beautiful time. We are so blessed to have Fr. Dave Sunberg, Msgr. Lane and Fr. Jason in our region (photo 4). They helped me in so many ways throughout Holy Week, including concelebrating at the noon Easter Mass. They are always such a wonderful support to our region.

BE A MAN! Don’t forget to register for the Catholic men’s conference to be held next Saturday. Please join our group of men for a day of prayer, talks and fellowship. There are many great speakers that are part of the lineup this year. Check them out at this website: catholicspeakers.com/cincinnati-mens-conference.

 

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

In laying down his life for the sheep, Jesus teaches us the supreme value of our freedom. This gift from God enables us to love, because only when faced with the possibility to choose not to love can we give ourselves entirely for the benefit of another. No one is forced to love. That’s impossible, for love can never be forced out of someone if it is to be genuine love.

Jesus, in laying down his life for his sheep — the act of which he says there is no greater evidence of love — teaches us that our freedom is most appropriately used for loving others. There are many ways that we can use our freedom to love ourselves, yet it seems Jesus wants us to consider that embracing the challenge, and often the sacrifice, of using it to love others will in the end be truly life-giving, for both them and for us. In this same sense we continue to celebrate the fact that Jesus’ Resurrection is a source of true life for him,  the life of glory, but it is only possible because he chose to give everything of himself for us. The life of glory increases as we ourselves decrease. How is God inviting me to die to self and live for love?