This weekend we find ourselves celebrating the Third Sunday of Easter and living in the Sixth Week of Corona. So hopefully, here’s a little perspective and application on both. The Gospel of Luke finds two of Jesus’ disciples walking along the road to Emmaus and discussing the events of recent days in Jerusalem. Unbeknownst to them, the Christ is walking with them and listening to their conversation.
Navigating during these unusual times as a parish many of our ministries and other Programs continue as needs continue—even hunger and other human needs seem to “work from home.” Along with the daily and weekend Masses being live-streamed and taped at (www.stcatherine.info) on our website, the parish also is providing opportunities for Faith Formation outreach and Youth Ministry work— including proving food locally here and in downtown Hartford at shelters. Here’s what’s going on in your name:
In the near future you will be receiving communications for FAITH DIRECT, a company engaged by our parish to provide easy, convenient and secure electronic weekly and annual donations to your parish, St. Catherine of Siena Parish. We are offering this optional route to keep your parish fiscally strong and growing, especially during this time of isolation with no public gatherings but also as a way to provide an even flow of resources
Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, the Octave Day of Easter or the eighth day of Easter. The feast day is observed by Roman Catholics as well as some Anglicans. It is originally based on the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy that Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus, and is associated with special promises from Jesus and indulgences issued by the Catholic Church.
What a Lent it has been! “Come on Easter!” The Easter Season is all about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of Eternal Life—a life that does not end, a life that is complete with unending joy, perfection and happiness—a life that has us sharing in Christ’s own Divine Life for all eternity.
Amanda Aldrich, an 8th grade student in Simsbury, is active in youth ministry, and loves her family and friends, sports, and just being a teen. Amanda also has an extremely rare autoimmune disease, CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy). Basically, her immune system attacks her nerves, which makes her legs and arms week and tingling if not treated.
For an understatement of the year, this Palm Sunday is one for the record books! While our readings may be familiar, there is nothing familiar about empty churches, an abundance of left over palms, too much fear, anxiety and uncertainty or the self-distancing that is becoming all too commonplace in our modern world.