Dear Parish Family,

It may be difficult to accept the Lord's infinite mercy for us. We might understand intellectually that the Lord loves us, but as an experience of the heart we may find ourselves resisting His merciful love. In today's Gospel, Thomas was not present when our risen Lord first appeared to His Apostles and He refuses to believe. Not unlike us, perhaps His disbelief was not so much in Jesus' resurrection from the dead but rather in His infinite divine mercy.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pray for a renewal of our heartfelt appreciation for God's forgiveness for us and desire to draw us close to Himself, regardless of how far we may have strayed or the sins darkening our past. It's not presumptuous to believe in the fullness of His mercy and desire to reconcile all things to Himself. His mercy is greater than the limitations of our understanding. Let us approach the Lord with confident trust in His merciful love for us. 

Deacon Anthony will celebrate his last weekend with us as a transitional deacon next weekend. He will be ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Cleveland on Saturday, May 17 at 10 am at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland. We will let you know his priestly assignment next weekend after he meets with Bishop Malesic this week. Deacon Anthony will be back to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving as a newly ordained priest at the 12 pm Mass at St. Mary's on Sunday, June 8. We will have a reception for him after Mass in the St. Mary Banquet Room. Our prayers are with you, Deacon Anthony, as you prepare for your priestly ordination! It's been such a blessing having you here at St. Mary's and St. Patrick's this past year. You've changed our lives in such a meaningful way!

Please pray for our Confirmandi who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this Friday, May 2 with Bishop Amos. May the Lord inspire them to receive this Sacrament with great faith and trust in the Lord's plan for their lives!

I am yours in Christ,

Fr. Scott Goodfellow