From the Pastor’s Desk:

This weekend, but especially Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. To many it means a 3 day weekend at the lake or the beginning of the summer season. Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War a desire to honor our dead of both the North and the South

Today we hold in special memory all who have died in all our wars to keep our country free; in the Civil war, the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Let us also hold in memory all who have met death through senseless violence both on streets and in their homes.

We hold in memory the millions whose lives have been snuffed out through willful abortions.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been offered up on the altars of prejudice, hunger, neglect and hatred.

We hold in memory all who have been slaughtered on the highways and streets of our country.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been terminated through the lethal effects of drugs, of all types and descriptions.

We hold in memory the martyrs’ blood of the past and now the martyrs today whose blood has been shed so that others might know the love and mercy of God the Father and our Redemption through his Son, Jesus.

We hold in memory all our dear loved ones, who now share the eternal vision of glory with the Father and the joy and peace of Christ’s resurrection.

I will celebrate an 8:30 Mass in the Cathedral on Memorial Day, since the Bishop will be at Immaculate Conception and not at Resurrection Cemetery.

The second collection this week is for the Catholic Cemeteries. It is very expensive to maintain our two cemeteries. Keeping everything mowed and trimmed, trees trimmed, dead trees removed, new trees planted, etc. The concrete sidewalk/platform at the altar area near the new cross at St. Mary’s was just replaced. This collection helps to keep our Catholic Cemeteries beautiful.