In Today’s Gospel
We continue to celebrate the season of Easter. Christ remains with us. Even when we reject him, Christ remains with us. Christ chose us; he died for us not because we were righteous but because we were sinners. God’s love for us does not depend on our response. He loves us unconditionally. But even in his unconditional love for us, he still allows us the freedom to reject his love. We reject his love by rejecting his commandments.
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us that “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (Jn 15:10) Jesus simplifies all of the commands in the Bible down to a single commandment, “This I command you: love one another.” (Jn 15:17) Let us reject the hatred and bigotry that is growing in our world. Let us reject the ways of the world and embrace one another in love, a love that flows from God.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
For over a year, we have been in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our loved ones have died, and many more have been sickened. The last year, in an effort to protect the most vulnerable among us, we endured lockdowns, social distancing, and masks. The quickest way that we can move beyond these things, beyond the pandemic, is through vaccination. If you have not yet received your vaccination, I encourage you to do so.
In the first few months, when the vaccination became available, it wasn’t easy to find the vaccine. Now, however, there are many opportunities to receive your shots. One such opportunity will be this coming Saturday at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Garden City, one of our sister parishes in our Family of Parishes.
On Saturday, May 15th, St. Thomas the Apostle will be hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. From 10 AM to 4 PM, University Pharmacy will be offering the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. A follow-up clinic for the second dose will be on June 12th. This clinic provides the COVID-19 vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost to you. You must register ahead of time. For more information, and to register, go to www.stmarywayne.org.
Disposal of Sacred Objects
We are currently collecting sacred objects that you are no longer using. The proper way to dispose of sacred objects is to destroy them. On May 22nd, the Saturday of Pentecost weekend, we will be burning these objects before the 5:30 Mass at St. Richard. Please bring in your sacred objects that can be burned to either St. Mary or St. Richard churches. There are collection bins available.
Items to be collected include old palms, holy cards, and devotional books, especially bibles, which have fallen into disrepair. In addition to these items, we will also be burning the Prayer Request slips that have been submitted. Our prayers will rise to heaven along with the smoke from the fire.
Confirmation Retreat
For the last two years, several young men and women from our parish have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The sacrament of confirmation, along with baptism and Eucharist, is one of the sacraments of initiation into the Church. Baptism is ordered towards our personal salvation. The Eucharist strengthens us for our journey with Christ. Confirmation is ordered towards the salvation of the world, to strengthen us to “make disciples of all nations.”
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples gathered in the upper room, strengthening them to go out into the world to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. In confirmation, the Holy Spirit descends upon us, giving us the grace to go out and proclaim his gospel in word and deed.
This Saturday, May 15th, these young men and women will be going on their confirmation retreat, the final stage in their preparation for the sacrament. Please pray for them as they prepare to receive the sacrament, and pray for them as they receive the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Hanchon on May 30th.