Blessings for this Mother’s Day. We recognize, celebrate, and entrust our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and aunts to the beautiful intercessory aid of the Blessed Mother, the Mediatrix of all Grace.
Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
so you give life and care for your Church.
Bless these women, as we celebrate this day in their honor.
May they be strengthened as Christian mothers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor and appreciate them with a spirit of profound respect.
May the example of Mary, mother of Jesus, inspire them to live their vocation as Christian mothers and call their children to faith. Guide and protect them in challenging times
and help them to continue to trust in you all the days of their life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings to our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV who on Friday 8 May celebrated the first anniversary of his election to the pontificate.
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Leo,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life. Amen.
Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate was celebrated this weekend at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Pater and Paul. Ordinations to the Priesthood will be celebrated at the Cathedral on Saturday 16 May. We are blessed with the ministry of our Deacons here at OLP and we offer congratulations and blessings to all who have been ordained and we welcome them to this most Sacred Ministry of service to God and to his Church.
For information about the Permanent Diaconate please contact: Deacon Kevin Harrington, Administrator of Permanent Deacons / Main Office: 215-587-4532 Email: kharrington@archphila.org / Permanent Diaconate – Archdiocese of Philadelphia
For information about the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please contact Father Sean English:
Vocations Office: 610-667-5778 / Fr. Sean English, Vocation Director VocationDirector@archphila.org / heedthecall.org
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation, will be celebrated on Thursday 14 May. Masses will be at 8:30am at Our Lady of Peace Church and at 9:00am at Notre Dame de Lourdes (with our Notre Dame de Lourdes school students) and at 6:30pm at Notre Dame de Lourdes.
Mass readings and reflection questions for The Ascension of the Lord – Cycle A / 14 May 2026
Acts 1:1-11 – What is the significance of the Ascension? / Why did St. Luke write The Acts of the Apostles as a sequel to his Gospel? / The disciples stayed together for ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost. Imagine their conversations as they awaited the “promise of the Father.”
Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3 – R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. – Compare this Psalm with the celebratory atmosphere at the election of a pope (like we witnessed last year with the election of Pope Leo 14).
Ephesians 1:17-23 – How has your heart been enlightened this Easter season? / How does St. Paul demonstrate that through the Ascension, Jesus is more present to the Church? What does the Ascension require of us?
Matthew 28:16-20 – What are the doubts that the disciples faced immediately before the Ascension of Jesus? / Who are the modern members of the Church that you are called to teach and to observe all that Jesus has commanded? / In what area of your spirituality are you challenged by the commissioning of the disciples? How does it comfort you?
Readings and reflection questions for the Sixth Sunday of Easter – Cycle A / 10 May 2026
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 – What is the distinction between Baptism and Confirmation? / When were you Confirmed? Who Confirmed you? What is your Confirmation name? Why did you choose that name?
Responsorial Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 – R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. – Have you ever felt that God has refused your prayers? What were your options?
1st Peter 3:15-18 – What is the reason for your hope? / What does it mean to keep your conscience clear?
John 14:15-21 – What does it mean to be an Advocate? Who advocates for you? How is the Holy Spirit an advocate? / What is the relationship between love, keeping the Commandments, and deepening your appreciation and understanding of Jesus?