The friars and staff of Transfiguration Parish wish all of you a very blessed Easter. I've missed singing the Gloria and the alleluias at Mass for the last forty days. For the next six weeks we will be uplifted by the New Testament witness to Christ's victory over death, followed by the solemn feast of Pentecost. I hope that the spiritual intensity that Lent always fosters will stay with us into the Easter season and beyond.
The second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, reminds me that Pope Francis has set aside Dec. 8, 2015 to Nov. 20, 2016 as a Holy Year of Mercy. In the Pope's own words, "Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)
I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time. From this moment, we entrust this Holy Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey.”