Easter Vigil Images

Celebrating the Baptism

Today we remember and celebrate the baptism of Jesus, which made our baptisms possible.

Do you know when you were baptized? Do you celebrate that date?

Baptisms on the Feast of the Holy Family

On this weekend of the Feast of the Holy Family, it is with great joy that six children have entered the Church through baptism. They are:

Roman Daniel

Jackson James

Nora Amelie

Ava Maureen

George William

Memphis Pearl

George Patrick

Myla Dorothy

Congratulations!

Mary Magdalene at the Cross

"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala."

(John 19:25)

Twenty-two years ago, I spent much of July at Children's Hospital.

My husband, Tim, and I had a newborn daughter home from another hospital for just a day, when we noticed her arm and leg twitching on one side of her body -- a seizure, it turned out.

We took her to Children's and learned she'd had bleeding in her brain -- likely from her delivery a few days earlier -- and the blood had clotted and was blocking spinal fluid in her brain and creating pressure there.

My parents met us at the hospital that evening. After learning the diagnosis but before returning home exhausted and without our baby, I remember my mother saying:  "I hate to tell you this, but welcome to parenthood."

Tim and I had a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old at home with their other grandmother, so we weren't completely new to parenting. But my mom knew all parents eventually face moments like these.

Looking back, I realize those times aren't reserved for parents alone. All love eventually takes us to the cross. Sooner or later our beloved ones will suffer, and we will be there with them.

Our daughter, Mary Therese, received three sacraments during her hospital stay: baptism, anointing of the sick and confirmation. Unlike most people who are confirmed, she wasn't able to choose her confirmation name. Tim and I made a quick choice, a well-known saint whom the church remembers every July: Mary Magdalene.

Now, more than ever, that choice seems appropriate. St. Mary Magdalene knew how to love, and she was faithful in that love even at the cross and the tomb.

Jesus rewarded her by showing her the glory of the Resurrection, as one of the first people to see Him on Easter and as one of our great saints.

A lot of time has passed since our daughter's birth, and now we probably take her good health for granted. During that early hospitalization one doctor told us: "She might be able to walk, but she'll never be a track athlete." (So of course I enjoyed a particular satisfaction when Mary was on St. Columbkille's track team while in school there.☺

Our family has so much to celebrate in remembering Mary's birth.

Jesus showed us the love of the cross -- and the glory of new life.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Welcome to the Church

Rite of Election

Sunday was the Rite of Election at St. Cecilia Cathedral. It is a time where Archbishop Lucas gets to meet those who are preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil and their sponsors.

At our parish, 28 people plan to join the Church at our Easter Vigil. Of those, 12 children and three adults will be baptized/

Below is a picture of the three adults to be 

baptized signing the Book of the Elect.

Please keep in prayer all of those who are preparing to enter the Church this year.

Godfather Vogel

Last weekend Fr Vogel flew to Washington D.C. to become serve as Godfather to Gerald Dane Curren III, the son of two of his dear friends.

His parents attribute the miracle of his birth to Our Lady of Lourdes as they were told by a doctor that they would be unable to achieve pregnancy naturally.

As Fr. Vogel was on the first leg of his trip, the flight was the second leg was cancelled, delaying him for a day. His flight back also had to be rerouted due to weather in the east. But it was well worth it.

Happy Easter

 As always, the Easter Vigil began outside with fire.

 The church was lit by candlelight and became brighter ...

 ... as the Exultent was sung.

We had baptisms.

 

 We had Confirmations.

Welcome and congratulations

 to our newest members.

Happy Easter to Everyone.

He is Risen!