Father is the Parochial Administrator of St. Martin de Porres parish in North Philadelphia. Father also serves as the Chaplain at Temple University as well as at Roman Catholic High School. In his talk, Father mentioned his great devotion to St. Therese the Little Flower. Father quoted her: “I will spend my heaven in doing good on the earth.”  Father expressed that St. Therese, who is the Patron Saint of Missionary activity, wished to be a missionary in Africa. 

Thank you for your generosity to the collection for the Pontifical Mission Societies. The blue and white envelopes will be at the entrances at both of our churches throughout the month of June. These envelopes are earmarked for this collection. Please feel free to place these envelopes in the collection basket during Mass. The collection benefits missionaries who are proclaiming the Gospel and supporting the building of the Church. These missionaries provide food, education, and medical care. Thank you again.  

The Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus began on 3 June and will conclude this week. The prayers for this week encourage us… 

to be one with the Father, and each other, united in a bond of love (7 June) 

to make reparations and amend for the wrongs we have committed (8 June) 

to be mindful of the Church’s pilgrimage through history and to be appreciative of the sacrifices that have been made (9 June) 

to be transformed by the humble Heart of Jesus to become more suited for the works of mercy and virtuous living (10 June) 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – Readings and Reflection questions – Cycle A / 7 June 2026 

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 – Is it your intention to keep God’s Commandments? / What is meant with the line: “He let you be afflicted with hunger”? What is the purpose of afflictions? How are afflictions healed? In what way does the Most Blessed Sacrament heal afflictions?  / Describe the places and events that God has guided you through? Have you ever forgotten the Lord, your God? How can you assist people who have? / Have you ever eaten anything without knowing what it was? What is the most unusual food you have eaten? What food would you like to try? 

Responsorial Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 – R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. – How strong are the bars of your gates? What is needed to keep your faith secure? / Is there peace within your borders? What do you need from the Holy Spirit to bring tranquility to your life? 

1^st Corinthians 10:16-17 – What is your favorite type of bread? Sourdough? Ciabatta, Focaccia? Baguette? Why? With whom do you frequently break bread?  / In what area of parish life would you like to participate more fully? 

John 6:51-58 – When and where did you receive your First Communion? / What is your favorite Eucharistic hymn? Why? / Every Tuesday, our parish offers Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The day closes with Benediction at half-past six. Why is Eucharistic Adoration essential to a person’s individual faith and spirituality? Why is Adoration essential for the life of the parish community?  / Compare and contrast manna with this living bread that came down from heaven. 

Heart of Jesus… 

… aflame with love for us / a mission of compassion for the world 

… source of justice and love / may I become your love and radiate your mercy 

… worthy of all praise / make my heart, beat with your heart 

… patient and full of mercy / the treasury of God’s mercy is inexhaustible 

… fountain of life and holiness / your sentiments of compassion shall be forever 

… atonement for our sins / I consecrate myself to you without reserve 

… source of all consolation  

/ strengthen my faith, increase my love, give vigor to my confidence 

… gentle and humble of heart / make my heart like yours 

The ninth day is dedicated to the consecration with the following prayer.  

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: 

You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you. 

From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. 

Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you. 

We celebrate the abundant gifts you have given this nation, founded on the self-evident truths that our Creator has endowed all people with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

We make reparation for the offenses against you and against human dignity that have taken place in this nation. May our hearts be united to yours, so that our families and communities enjoy peace and happiness; may broken relationships be reconciled, injustices repaired, and the wounds of our land be healed. 

May your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to your infinite love. 

O Desire of Nations and Center of History, we ask you to bless these United States of America.  

Who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.  

More information about the consecration including references to the papal documents, prayerful reflections from the Communion of Saints, daily prayers, and action plans can be found at the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Novena to the Sacred Heart. Novena to the Sacred Heart | USCCB 

The Most Holy Trinity – Readings and reflection questions – Cycle A / 31 May 2026 

Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 – What do you enjoy about the early mornings? Does that answer depend upon the day of the week? What is your favorite time of day? Why? / What other Biblical events involved the presence of a cloud? What was the purpose of those events? / Do you find the Lord to be merciful, gracious, slow to anger, rich in kindness and fidelity? Do you find yourself to have these qualities? / Who is in your company? Is there room for more? 

Responsorial: Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 – R. Glory and praise for ever! – What does it mean to be praiseworthy? What are some of your praiseworthy actions? / Who are the Cherubim? What role do they perform? / What insights does this Responsorial Psalm add to your ideas about the Trinity? About heaven?  

2^nd Corinthians 13:11-13 – What ways of your life need mending?  / What relationships in your life are peaceful? Where is a holy kiss required? / The close of this reading from 2 Corinthians 13:13 represents the final written exchange between St. Paul and the people of Corinth. Why do we begin Mass with this passage? Have you ever considered sharing those words outside of a church setting? 

John 3:16-18 – Do you trust that God continues to love the world? Why or why not? What does the expression of God’s love look like in the 21^st century? Is this expression changed or unchanged through the ages? / What does it mean to believe in the name of the only Son of God? Do you believe?  

 
Walt Whitman was born on 31 May 1819 in Brooklyn. Whitman, during the American Civil War, volunteered his services to assist those wounded by war. His poem “The Wound Dresser” recalls his loving service offered to the soldiers.  

“Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals, the hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, I sit by the restless all the dark night, some are so young, some suffer so much, I recall the experience sweet and sad. Many a soldier’s loving arms about this neck have crossed and rested, many a soldier’s kiss dwells on these bearded lips.” 

This poem, along with “Beat! Beat! Drums!”, “Dirge for Two Veterans”, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, and “O Captain, My Captain!” are but a few of Walt’s responses to the devastation of war and those affected by it. Walt is such an apt companion on our Memorial Day journeys. Stop by the Walt Whitman, Molly Pitcher, Clara Barton, or Joyce Kilmer service plazas on the New Jersey Turnpike for more inspiration. 

Notice the movement evident in Walt’s recollections. He returns, resumes, threads his way through corridors and hospitals; the soldiers are restless; his hand soothes. Much of Whitman’s work involves movement. The destination may not be clear, certain, or definitive but there is a movement in search of an indescribable something. 

The Holy Spirit is the mover and shaker drawing us into a deeper communion with The Holy Trinity. It is the Holy Spirit who comes as a great driving wind, and as tongues of fire. Yet, it is also the Holy Spirit who descends as gently and tenderly as a dove seeking to perch upon the areas of life whose movements are indescribable.  

Stephen Langton, a thirteenth century Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, attempts to describe what is indescribable in his poem to the Holy Spirit: “Veni Sancte Spiritus” – “Come, Holy Spirit.” “Heal our wounds, our strength renew; on our dryness pour your dew. Wash the stains of guilt away. Melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray.” Langton originally planned this piece to be an accusation against an absent Spirit. Yet as he wrote he realized the absence was not on the Spirit’s part but on ours, who failed to accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation to enter that which is indescribable.  

Fast forward to the nineteenth century and we find Walt Whitman, in his poem “A Noiseless Patient Spider” searching for the indescribable. “A noiseless patient spider… it launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself, ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.” You can almost see the images of the early Church with the Holy Spirit unreeling filaments of fire, energy, strength, confidence, and hope upon the followers of Jesus. Finally, Walt compares the work of the spider to the promptings of the Holy Spirit upon his own being.  “And you O my soul where you stand, surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space, ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them, till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold, till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.” 

Blessings to all as this Memorial Day weekend. May you acknowledge the goodness of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Trinity dwelling within you. Allow the Spirit’s thread to catch somewhere, moving you along the bridge the Holy Trinity forms within you, leading you to the wounds you are invited to dress.  

Pentecost – Readings and Reflections – Cycle A / 24 May 2026 

Acts 2:1-11 – What are the events that you anticipated with uncertainty? Did those events live up to your expectations? How were you surprised by them? Pleasantly surprised? Unpleasantly? / What aromas fill your house? Fill your soul? / Why is the Holy Spirit associated with images of energy? / What languages do you speak? Which would you like to speak? 

Responsorial Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 3 – R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. – With what creatures of the earth would you like to be more familiar? / The Psalmists’ theme is “to be pleasing to the Lord”. What is your theme? / In what ways does the face of the earth need to be renewed? How can you help in that renewal? In what ways do you need to be renewed?  

1^st Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 – What are your spiritual gifts? Your forms of service? “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” For what benefit has the manifestation of the Spirit been given to you? 

John 20:19-23 – This Gospel reading is also the reading for the Octave of Easter. Why is it repeated here for Pentecost? Which gospel reading do you like to hear frequently? Why?  / Is the peace of Christ within you? In what areas of your life is peace absent? / Why does Jesus breathe on the disciples? (See Genesis 2:7, and Psalm 104:29). / What sins have you forgiven? What sins have you retained? Are these the sins of others or your own? 

Remember that the Knights host a Rosary recitation on the 5^th Sunday of a month at 10:45 am at Our Lady of Peace Church. The next recitation will be on Sunday 31 May.  

Liturgical Friends was the name of our Chapel aides at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls. The Liturgical Friends would plan liturgies, decorate, prepare the school for various liturgical seasons, lector, usher, altar serve, clean the chapel, and help in the training of new members of the group. Liturgical Friends gave its participants the confidence to engage in various ministries at their own parish communities.  

Calling all friends: Here at Peace, we are exploring the possibilities of expanding ministry opportunities. You may have noticed the announcements seeking assistance with our church decorating, ushering and hospitality ministries. This, along with the re-introduction of a youth ministry, offers our parishioners, regardless of age, the chance to showcase their talents and to give back to the Lord in thanksgiving for all the blessings that the Lord has shared with them.  

In the future, we hope to offer Masses that feature the participation of parish organizations. Members of various groups will greet, usher, serve, lector, bear the gifts, and assist in the quality of the liturgical experience. With this experience and confidence our parishioners can organize and take part in future para-liturgical programs offered throughout the course of the year.  

Décor for the Lord: we have a rich legacy of offering stunningly beautiful worship environments at Our Lady Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes. Many just stagger in awe upon entering our churches. We have such skilled decorators who arrange, often with a narrow timeline, to ensure that our ability to worship and pray is strengthened by the environment of the sanctuary. Seasonal decoration and displays were an integral part of Liturgical Friends. We envision doing the same thing here. Our goal is to establish two teams, one for each Church, who would care for the seasonal displays and ensure that our thirsty plants, flowers, and greens are getting the nutrients they need to thrive.  

Yes, you have been anointed: and our responsibility is to keep the energy going after Confirmation. Sadly, but accurately, Pope Francis referred to the Sacrament of Confirmation as the Last Rites of the Church. Oftentimes a confirmed individual fails to attend Mass with regularity, nor understands for what purpose they have been anointed. Rather than pronouncing a conclusion to an active faith life, to confirm something means that two parties are on the same page, or have the same understanding, for some future event.   

Here at Our Lady of Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes we are envisioning that future event. Your generous participation in our liturgies ensures that those future events will be vibrant and meaningful to our individual and collective spirituality and faith formation.  

Seventh Sunday of Easter – Cycle A / 17 May 2026 

Acts 1:12-14 – How long is a Sabbath Day’s journey? / Why, after the Ascension, did the Apostles return to the Upper Room? Where are the places that you would return if you needed to reset yourself spiritually? / How frequently do you pray in a day? In a week? 

Responsorial Psalm 27:4,7-8 – R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. – What are the good things of the Lord that you believe you will see? / What is the sound of your prayer? How do you know that the Lord hears your prayer? Do you hear the answers? 

1^st Peter 4:13-16 – What does it mean to suffer as a Christian? Why does this lead to exultant rejoicing? 

John 17:1-11a – What is glory? How did Jesus glorify the Father? How do you glorify the Holy Trinity? / What is the work that God gave you to do? How well are you accomplishing it? / The disciples were present when Jesus offered this prayer to the Father. How did it influence them? (See today’s First Reading from Acts). How does this prayer influence you? 

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? 

1^st 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? 

Our celebration of First Holy Communion brings our annual PREP classes to a close. We had over 125 students in our PREP program this year. Twenty-two PREP students received the Sacrament of Confirmation in February, and thirteen PREP students received First Holy Communion yesterday. Thank you to Mrs. Beinlich, and to our PREP catechists and aides who give of their time so generously to educate our young parishioners and to assist them in their faith formation as disciples of Christ.  

PREP is conducted 4:30 – 5:45pm on Tuesdays from September through April at Notre Dame de Lourdes School. Additional information about the PREP program as well as registration for the 2026/2027 academic year can be found on our website. Being a PREP catechist is a wonderful opportunity to evangelize and to share your love of our faith with our students. Those interested in being a catechist for PREP should contact the Rectory. Thanks for your consideration. 

May is the month of Our Lady. Our parish May procession and Crowning of the Blessed Mother will be celebrated with our school students on Wednesday, 13 May at 1:30pm at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and Grotto. With nearly three miles of Interstate 476 forming the western border of our parish we are reminded that our parish and school have our own distinct Blue Route. For it is the Blessed Mother who leads us to her Son and encourages us to be drawn to The Most Sacred Heart of our Savior. So, this month of May is an opportune time to celebrate the great treasury of prayers that remind us of the special relationship with have with Mary who draws us into an eternal relationship with her Son.  

Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) 

Hail, holy Queen, mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, 
poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping, in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate,  

thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us  

the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.  

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Readings and Reflection questions for the Fifth Sunday of Easter – Cycle A / 3 May 2026 

Acts 6:1-7 – Who is the Church currently neglecting? Why? What can be done to assist them in their needs? / This reading presents the beginning of the Diaconate. What is the role of the deacon in the Church? Why is it necessary to first be ordained as a deacon before entering the priesthood?  / Because of the ministry of the deacons, why were Jewish priests attracted to Christianity? 

Responsorial Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-1 – R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. – Do you play any musical instruments? What do you play? What would you like to play? / How is the final verse of this psalm connected to the First Reading? 

1^st Peter 2:4-9 – What is a living stone? / At your baptism you were enrolled in the three-fold ministry of Christ as a priest (live a holy life), a prophet (share the Good News), and a king (be a servant leader). How well are you fulfilling those roles? 

John 14:1-12 – Is faith in God different than faith in Jesus? / How do you imagine heaven, knowing that Jesus is preparing a place for you? / Having known the Son, what do you know of the Father? / What does Jesus mean by saying that we will be able to do greater works than his? How is this possible? 

“O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption.” (Roman Missal p. 353)  

As we celebrate with them it affords us the opportunity to reflect upon our own reception of First Holy Communion. In what parish did you receive First Communion? What time of year was it? What were you wearing? With whom did you celebrate the occasion? Were you kneeling or standing when you received First Communion? Did you receive on your tongue or on your hands? Have you ever received Communion on your tongue? Have you ever received Communion on your hands? Have you ever knelt to receive Communion?  

An Act of Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.  

We also pray, on this Good Shepherd Sunday, for an awareness of vocations. 

“Lord, you call us all by name to follow your path. You always bless your Church and guide your followers to become leaders who think of others before themselves. Mold us in the image of your Son, to respond to your call as Sisters, Priests, Brothers, Deacons, and Lay servants of the Gospel. Embolden us all to grow in knowing you, and allow this knowledge to open hearts, minds, and souls to your enduring call. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.” 

Friday 1 May is the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. The following is from paragraph six of Pope Francis’ 2020 Apostolic Letter, With a Father’s Heart, celebrating the 150^th anniversary of St. Joseph’s dedication as Patron of the Universal Church. 

“An aspect of Saint Joseph that has been emphasized from the time of the first social Encyclical, Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, is his relation to work. Saint Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the fruit of one’s own labor. 

In our own day, there is a renewed need to appreciate the importance of dignified work, of which Saint Joseph is an exemplary patron. Work is a means of participating in the work of salvation, an opportunity to hasten the coming of the Kingdom, to develop our talents and abilities, and to put them at the service of society and fraternal communion. It becomes an opportunity for the fulfilment not only of oneself, but also of that primary cell of society which is the family.  

Working persons, whatever their job may be, are cooperating with God himself, and in some way become creators of the world around us. The crisis of our time, which is economic, social, cultural and spiritual, can serve as a summons for all of us to rediscover the value, the importance and necessity of work for bringing about a new “normal” from which no one is excluded.” 

Fourth Sunday of Easter – Cycle A / 26 April 2026 

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 – When and where were you baptized?  / What gifts of the Holy Spirit do you treasure most? What gifts have you yet to unwrap? 

Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, – R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. – How is the Lord your shepherd? / How frequently do you allow your soul to be refreshed? Who or what refreshes your soul? / What virtues follow you all the days of your life? 

1^st Peter 2:20b-25 – Are you following in the footsteps of Christ? / Where in your life do you still need spiritual healing? How can the wounds of Christ assist you with that healing? 

John 10:1-10 – What is the difference between the gatekeeper and the shepherd? Who is the gatekeeper? / How well do you recognize the voice of the shepherd? / Compare and contrast this Gospel with the Psalm. 

Brochures promoting “The Catholic Church of Philadelphia, Catholic Every Day” are at the entrances of our churches. These brochures have been published by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a follow-up to the Trust and Hope Initiative.  

The brochure details the goals, purpose, and visions of the Missionary Hubs. Currently there are five Missionary Hubs in the archdiocese, one per county. St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester is the Delaware County Missionary Hub. The long-term goal is to have ten missionary hubs per county within the next decade. 

As baptized members of the Church it is the responsibility of each of us to engage and encourage each other in the practice of our faith. Through our witnessing of the unconditional love of the Father, the mercy of our Savior and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we challenge ourselves to preserve the missionary spirit of the early disciples and welcome others to do the same.  

The Catholic Charities Appeal kicked off the 2026 campaign in late February. Thank you to all who have donated so generously to this vital social ministry initiative of the archdiocese.  

Envelopes for the 2026 Catholic Charities Appeal are located at the entrances of our Churches. The goal of the 2026 Appeal is $10 million which will support social service ministries, evangelization, special education, mission parishes, and care for elderly clergy within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Archbishop Perez offered the following reflection as the 2026 Catholic Charities Appeal commenced. 

 “You are living out the mission of Christ’s compassionate love and mercy through your support of the Catholic Charities Appeal—bringing hope to the vulnerable, comfort to the suffering, and light to those in darkness. Together, as Missionary Disciples, we can ensure that everyone in our community knows they have a home in the Church and that God loves them beyond measure.” 

Additional information can be found at www.catholiccharitiesappeal.org. Thank you for your continued financial and prayerful support of the annual Catholic Charities Appeal.  

Readings and reflection questions for the 3^rd Sunday of Easter – Cycle A / 19 April 2026 

Acts 2:14, 22-33 – Compare and contrast this first reading with the Gospel. Are they both equally effective? What advantage did Jesus have that St. Peter did not? / Do you trust that God is at your right hand? How does this trust keep you from being disturbed? 

Responsorial Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9, 10-11 – R. Lord, you will show us the path of life. – Compare and contrast this Psalm with today’s Gospel. / What is your lot? How is the Lord holding it fast?  / Why does the psalmist set the Lord before him? How is it our responsibility to do this? Do you set the Lord before you? What effect does this have on your life? On your spirituality? 

1^st Peter 1:17-21- What does it mean to sojourn? What does God ask of you during this sojourn? What do you need from God? / St. Peter asks us to conduct ourselves with reverence. What is reverence? What are you called to revere that you may have been overlooking or downplaying? 

Luke 24:13-35 – Does the travel of the Emmaus disciples qualify as a sojourn? Why or why not? / Do you like talking to strangers when you travel? Why or why not? / Why is only one of the disciples named? / Apparently these two disciples left after the Resurrection but before the appearance of Jesus. Would you have left at that point? Do you tend to leave before an event is over? / With what prophecies of the Messiah are you familiar? / What causes your heart to burn within you? / Why did Jesus vanish from their sight? Has he ever vanished from yours? 

Therefore, on this Octave of Easter, it is opportune to reflect on the beautiful events of a week ago, as we trust and hope in our eventual Resurrection. 

The Easter Vigil begins with a celebration of light overcoming the darkness. The Paschal Candle is illuminated, and it leads a procession of light into the darkened Church. The Easter Proclamation, a treasury of salvation history that signifies the importance of “this night” is sung. 

A handful of Church lights are lit as the Old Testament readings are proclaimed. These readings, at least three or as many as seven, are each accompanied by a responsorial psalm. The Gloria is sung signifying the movement from the Old Testament to the New. At this point all the lights in the Church are illuminated and the candles in the sanctuary are lit.  

This year, after the homily, we were privileged to receive five individuals into the Faith of the Roman Catholic Church. These five were welcomed as they prepared to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. We as a congregational community joined our voices in welcome as we too renewed our Baptismal promises and were sprinkled with Holy Water. Those entering the Catholic Faith received their First Eucharist uniting them with a community sustained by the Bread of Life. Afterwards, throughout the Easter season, they will continue to be enlightened and instructed about the Faith. 

Thank you once again for your participation and thank you so very much for your generosity to our collections for Holy Week and Easter. Peace and abundant blessings!  

Readings and Reflection questions for the Octave of Easter (Divine Mercy) – Cycle A / 12 April 2026  

Acts 2:42-47 – To what aspects of your faith are you devoted? What aspects need some re-commitment? / With whom do you meet on a regular basis? What activities do you do? Who would you like to meet with more regularly? What do you need to do to make that happen? How frequently do you meet with the Lord?  / What is sincerity of heart? How sincere is your heart? 

Responsorial Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 – R. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love is everlasting. – How frequently do you give thanks to the Lord? For what are you thankful?  / What is mercy? Why is today called “Divine Mercy Sunday?” How long does your mercy endure?  / What is the purpose of a cornerstone? Who is the cornerstone of your family? Why that person?  / “This is the day the Lord has made.” Do you tend to accept the day as the Lord has made it, or do you tend to reshape the day as you would prefer it to be? 

1^st Peter 1:3-9 – How do you live your life knowing that your inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and kept in heaven for you? How does faith safeguard this inheritance? How well is your faith safeguarding it? / What are the Works of Mercy? Pope Francis added care for the environment as an eighth corporal Work of Mercy in 2016. By doing this he was commemorating a significant 1891 papal document on its 125^th anniversary. What was the document, and what is its significance? How does caring for the environment fit in with the spirit of that document?  / What goals have you set for your faith? What goals has your faith set for you?  

John 20:19-31 – What are your fears? How does Jesus calm them for you?  / Why did Jesus offer peace to the disciples? Why do we offer peace to each other at Mass? Why does this occur immediately before the Eucharist?  / Why did Jesus appear with the marks of his Crucifixion? Are these marks evident in the other Resurrection accounts?  / How frequently do you receive the Holy Spirit?  / Think about what was going through the mind of St. Thomas during that week. What questions did he ask of the others? What questions would you have asked? / Compare and contrast this account of belief with St. Peter’s description of belief in today’s Epistle.  / Do you provide a lot of details when telling a story or do you leave things to the imagination of others? How do you decide what to include and what to exclude? 

Thanks to all who have worked with such loving dedication for the Commemoration of the Paschal Triduum and the celebration of the Resurrection of The Lord. 

The planning and preparation for these liturgies goes back to late summer with the planning of the OCIA Team and its preparation of our elect who have been initiated into our Church this weekend. The planning and preparation include our decorators who seasonally prepare and maintain two churches to enhance our worship experience. 

Thanks also to our liturgical teams of Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, cantors, music ministers, altar servers, ushers, hospitality team, and those who maintain and coordinate our live stream broadcasts. You are always so well prepared and eager to be of service to God and our community. 

Thanks to all who have assisted the missionaries with their Holy Week outreach. By your nourishment of the nourishers, you assure that the impoverished in our region are never excluded from the love of the Lord and that they are always welcome at his banquet. 

Missionary activity is central to the archdiocese’s current initiative – “Trust and Hope, The Catholic Church of Philadelphia.” This initiative invites the faithful to bring the beauty and the grace of the Catholic Faith out from its institutional structure and into the structure and routine of the people themselves. It is a loving response to your amen to the Most Blessed Sacrament and your willingness to bring that amen, and the grace of the Eucharist, into all our relationships and encounters. 

The numbers below are a testament to the volume of your amen and the impact of sharing your grace. 

Average Sunday Mass Attendance During Lent: 

2022 = 534 2023 = 611  2024 = 644 2025 = 672  2026 = 742 

This represents a 10% increase in attendance from last year and a 39% increase in attendance from 2022. Coming out of the pandemic, the combined attendance at our Vigil Mass and the early morning Mass was slightly under 200, four years later the attendance at these Masses is slightly over 300.  

Thomas Merton once remarked that though we are sinners in need of redemption it is not sin that unites us, but grace that holds us in solidarity. And, it is due to grace, and your respect and appreciation of it, that nearly 40% more people feel comfortable worshipping together in praise of Almighty God. OLP is the place to be, and NDDL is where your child can excel! 

Easter is a celebration of the triumph of Light. The brightness of the Paschal Candle fills us with His Light. Thank you for cherishing the light of Christ that burns brightly within you. Thank you for allowing that light of grace to be noticed by over 200 people who, because of you, also walk around shining like the sun.  

Easter Readings and Reflections – Cycle A / 5 April 2026 

Acts 10:34a, 37-43 – What is the meaning of Alleluia? Why do we not use the Alleluia during Lent? / Describe the great deeds of God that you have witnessed. 

Responsorial Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 – R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. – What is a cornerstone? What is its purpose? Who / What is the cornerstone of your faith? 

Colossians 3:1-4 – With what level of frequency do you think about what is above? 

John 20:1-9 – Why did no one actually witness the Resurrection? / Why did St. John defer to St. Peter instead of entering the tomb first? / What is the significance of the burial cloths being left behind at the tomb?