Easter: Thank you to all of you who made our Easter weekend so special. I am especially grateful to Jim Otis and all the volunteers who made the Church so beautiful with the arrangement of flowers. Dr. Simon Lee and the choir put in a lot of long hours of practice that made the music splendid and holy. The servers also spent a lot of time rehearsing and I am grateful to them. They did great and were always on cue. I am also thankful to Maddie White and the RCIA team for all their support and guidance to those who entered the Church at the Easter Vigil. There were six baptisms at the Easter Vigil. Twelve others were fully initiated into the Church through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. They looked so happy!
Divine Mercy: This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday. What a great grace that our Heavenly Father is giving us once again! He just keeps on giving and giving!
Feast of the Annunciation: Because March 25 fell on Good Friday, the Church will be celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation on Monday, April 4. We will have Mass at our regularly scheduled times during the week: 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. After the 5:30 p.m. Mass there will be a blessing for any expectant moms. And no, we will not be celebrating Christmas nine months later on January 4!
Deacon Peter: On Holy Thursday afternoon Deacon Peter Lawrence received a phone call from Bishop Boyea regarding his first priestly assignment. He will be stationed at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Jackson beginning June 29 (a good day to start since it’s the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul). The pastor there is Fr. Tim MacDonald. Many of you may know Fr. Tim—he used to be stationed at Holy Redeemer Parish. We are very happy for Deacon Peter. Please mark your calendars: after being ordained a priest on June 10, he will be celebrating his Thanksgiving Mass at our parish on Sunday, June 25, at the noon Mass with a reception to follow. Also to note, former summer intern Deacon Brian Lenz will be celebrating his Thanksgiving Mass on the same day, June 25, at the 6 p.m. Mass. It’s wonderful that all of you at this parish had a hand in forming these men to become priests.
Spring Break: Our school will be on spring break this week. I hope the families (and the faculty and staff too) enjoy the break wherever they are.
School Auction: Speaking of our school, we are having our school auction on May 21. Anyone can attend. I know Fr. Gary is once again auctioning a day at his farm—which is always a big hit. And I know they roped me into doing a few things for the auction, but I can’t remember what they are!
Garage Sale: The 55 and Over group is putting on their garage sale on April 28 and 29. This is the first time they are having a sale for more than one day. Thanks to everyone who is helping out with this endeavor.
Iraq: I have a priest friend, Fr. Gerry Gawronski, who recently spent a week in northern Iraq. Talk about courage! He stayed at St. Peter’s Seminary in Ankara in the town of Erbil. There he met many Christians who had escaped death and had to flee their homes with only the clothes on their back. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who have to face terrorism every day. And Jesus also implores us to pray for our enemies too.
Fraternity: This Saturday evening we will be hosting priests from the Genesee County region for dinner, fraternity and prayer. This initiative of getting together on a monthly basis was thought of by Fr. Jon Perrotta. It’s an opportunity for the priests in our area to get together more often.
Quebec: I was asked to be the chaplain on a pilgrimage to Quebec the week of August 8 – 12. Perhaps some of you will be able to join us. (See page 13 for details and contact information.)
CRHP: There are only a couple of spots open for our men’s CRHP weekend coming up on April 16-17. What a blessing this weekend is for our parish! Hope you will be able to make a CRHP weekend at some point if you haven’t done so. To sign up, call Larry Blondin in the parish office or email lblondin@holyfamilygrandblanc.org.
Registered yet: Have you signed up on your phone for the app for Holy Family Parish? And have you typed in formed.org yet? Hope you are able to. They are both great resources.
May our loving Father continue to bless you with much peace and joy during this Easter season.
Msgr. Jerry
Saint of the day: The angel Gabriel’s words to Mary: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus….and of his Kingdom there will be no end…for nothing will be impossible for God.” And Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”