Beloved Family:
In many ways, I have probably one of the most diverse “work spaces” imaginable. In other words, ministry takes one away from the parish office nearly as often as it occurs in an office. That said, it is very infrequent for me to be set up on my laptop at a coffee or eating establishment, as I see many other humans doing nowadays.
I had such an occasion this Easter week. On Tuesday, following a visit with a parishioner in one of the Akron hospitals, I knew it made no sense to travel south to Wooster, when I simply would have turned right back around to go to Copley for my monthly priest prayer group. Hence, I made my way to a spot I had discovered on another trip to the area, ordered a sandwich and proceeded to—well, write this column. There were a lot of other laptops open and generating classwork, professional documents and the like. I don’t think it would be my choice in general, but it was a pleasant change of pace.
Earlier that same day, I received a message from a community member expressing his appreciation for what he described as a “beautiful Easter weekend.” He appropriately acknowledged that the efforts of a extensive group of people contributed to the prayerfulness of the liturgies throughout Holy Week and the Triduum. Honestly, I cannot imagine not being Catholic, in light of the power of the sacred mysteries we are privileged to celebrate in this season—and throughout the year, for that matter. Allow me once again to express my gratitude to all who planned and all who participated in the worship of this last fortnight and throughout Lent.
For those who did not have the opportunity to witness the initiation of sixteen individuals—nine who are newly baptized and seven who made their full profession of Faith—I can tell you that the sense of joy and reverence they exuded is enough to stir up the Holy Spirit in the most sedated disciple! Please pray in a deep way for them and for their families throughout these Easter days, that they will continue to have the support that helps us stay fervent in living the Way of Christ. Also, keep in awareness that the monthly Come and See Dinners, which potentially serve as a great introduction to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, continue with the first Monday in May.
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we observe the Feast of Divine Mercy. While we certainly want to open ourselves to receiving the flood of God’s mercy in our own souls, we are equally given a commission to broaden our spiritual imagination, so to speak, and unite our wills to that of the Heavenly Father to win all souls to Himself. If we are honest, I believe, we will acknowledge that most of us have a kind of “short list” of those we think and/or feel do not “deserve” mercy.
A most dramatic example of an individual who could fairly easily qualify here is the infamous commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Hoess. I propose a powerful meditation for reflection on this day: an article entitled “Divine Mercy and the Commandant of Auschwitz,” which appears on the divine mercy website (simply thedivinemercy.org). I would be hard-pressed to identify a clearer illustration of a late-in-life conversion.
At the time of going to print, a two-week ceasefire has been agreed upon between the United States and Iran. I pray that we will, each and every parishioner, dedicate some time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in church over the course of these Easter days for the cause of peace. In this jubilee year of Saint Francis, let us recall the example he presented while putting his own life on the line. In 1219, at the height of the Fifth Crusade, Francis crossed enemy lines to meet Sultan Malik-el-Kamil. After initially being beaten alongside his one companion, they ultimately won an audience and, although there was no dramatic conversion of the sultan, there was dialogue and respect that evidently led to more humane treatment. These kind of incidents may seem rare; they are by no means impossible.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
