Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Christ is risen! Christ is truly risen!
On this Easter Monday, I give thanks to God for the beautiful start of our Easter season. At the Easter Vigil at Holy Angels, four members of our parish families completed their Christian initiation. Please join me in congratulations and prayers of thanksgiving for the baptism of Thomas ["Tommy"] Beckwith, the reception into full communion of Elizabeth ["Missy"] Payne, and the confirmation of Angelina Johnson and Noah Morgan. Thank you to Kimmie Gibson, their sponsors, and their loved ones for accompanying them on their journey to Christian discipleship.
We are called to be joyful disciples during this Easter season. This task is not easy when we mourn the loss of a loved one. Today, we begin our prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis, who returned to the house of the Father this morning. Pope Francis served as the servant of servants of the Lord from 2013 to today. Attaching myself to the words of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who officially announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis: "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love the One and Triune God”.
During this time of mourning, please join me in this prayer for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis:
O God, immortal shepherd of souls,
look on your people’s prayers
and grant that your servant Pope Francis,
who presided over your Church in charity,
may, with the flock entrusted to his care,
receive from your mercy
the reward of a faithful steward.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
After the period of mourning, the College of Cardinals will convene for a conclave to elect the next pope. The conclave will include 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80; including our Archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, and our Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal Wilton Gregory. Please join me in this prayer for the election of a pope:
O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
This weekend, when the Church celebrates the Sunday of Divine Mercy, it will be my privilege to confer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick after all Sunday Masses to anyone who seeks the Sacrament. At the 10:30 AM Mass at Holy Angels on Sunday, May 4, we look forward to the celebration of First Holy Communion for the children of our parishes. Later at a special 5 PM Mass at Holy Angels on Friday, May 23, we will welcome Bishop Evelio Menjivar as he confers the Sacrament of Confirmation for the youth of our parishes.
May Pope Francis rest in peace, and may we thrive in all times with our baptismal call of Christian discipleship.
Yours in the Risen Christ,
Rev. Kevin A. Fields
Administrator, Holy Angels Parish & Sacred Heart Parish