Happy Easter! He is Risen!
Welcome Visitors
If you are visiting Holy Family for the first time or have only visited us on a limited basis – Welcome! We are very glad that you have joined us in prayer on the most important Feast Day in all of Christianity – Easter! This day is a culmination of an adventure of faith led by Jesus Christ. This is a day of celebration, joy and triumph. We believe that Jesus Christ endured tremendous suffering through being tested, challenged, interrogated, abandoned, and ultimately enduring excruciating pain and crucifixion that led to his human death. But today marks the day that he moved THROUGH all of those challenges and rose from the dead.
In doing so, he gave us an example to follow, namely that when we suffer and even experience figurative death, loss, endings, closings, or when things or even other people die, there is new life beyond those experiences. Our faith guides us THROUGH those experiences.
To those of you who are not familiar with us here at Holy Family, the beautiful cross that hangs above our altar inspires us to believe in the LITERAL rising of Jesus from the dead, and the promise of new life that lies beyond our sufferings.
We call it the CROSS OF NEW LIFE and it is a big part of our brand here at Holy Family Catholic Community. As the statue so beautifully indicates, Jesus is inviting YOU into new life. He is inviting you to BE MORE with Him, and it is thus our invitation to you to join us in experiencing new life here at Holy Family. I strongly urge you to visit our website to find out more about how we carry out our mission and extend new life in Christ. We have over 100 ministries, agencies and services, in addition to so many related activities that we can offer to you, your family and loved ones. You may also find a ministry, organization or group that you could share your talent and time with to more fully experience the vibrant nature of our community of faith. Ultimately, we are here for you, and if anything we offer can nurture your spiritual growth or help you, your family or a loved one, we offer you support.
I invite you to read the statement above the doors that open into our church from the Narthex. It states that our Mission is:
To empower all to experience new life in Christ through sacramental living, transformative worship, life-long spiritual growth and
community in service to others.
To those of you who are familiar with and regularly carry out our Mission
Welcome! And thank you for all that you do to faithfully carry out our very vibrant Mission. We are enriched by your presence and prayer these past few sacred days, and today on the celebration of Easter.
Please join me in extending the warmest possible welcome to our many visitors this weekend. and particularly Easter Day today. Don’t worry if a visitor is sitting where you normally sit; rather, offer your seat to them as a sign of welcome.
Please read the Mission Statement above the church doors as well to remind you of what we are inviting so many others into – our purpose – why we do what we do and what gives us new life.
I also encourage you to revisit our website to more fully familiarize yourself with all that Holy Family has to offer and all that takes place here to promote new life on a regular basis.
One of the many things that we have learned through over 500 Conversations in the Spirit is that many, even our most faithful parishioners, simply do not know the extent of and many details of the current ministries and activities here at Holy Family. So many of you are dedicated to this community because you believe in us and you find spiritual enrichment here. I am urging you in the name of the new life of Easter – the new life of Jesus Christ – the new life that our Cross depicts – to more actively share with others the many good things that take place here.
I am asking you to be ambassadors for our Mission and our purpose. I really believe that if more of us do that, then the new life that we experience through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ will continue to unfold in our lives on a regular basis.
To all of you who join us either periodically or regularly, on behalf of our entire staff, Academy and Parish alike, we wish you and those you love a blessed Easter!