Dear St. Joan of Arc Community,

Happy Easter!  Easter is the day of Resurrection, a day of new hope, of new beginnings, and of new life.  This is a time to celebrate, for Christ is victorious over sin and death.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so too can we rise from the ashes of Lent to new life in the Spirit of the Risen Christ.

The empty tomb reminds us that we have a future and we can move forward past the stones that block us from encountering the Risen Christ.  Do not be afraid, for nothing can keep you from the love of Jesus.  Our Easter liturgies remind us to trust in God’s love and to be a people unafraid of living in the joy and hope of the Resurrection.  Holy Week is a unique time of grace in our lives and our Triduum liturgies on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were prayerful and filled with a wonderful spirit. And Easter morning was just amazing. I am so grateful for all who came and worshipped with us and also to our staff and volunteers who joined together so generously and joyfully to help us all experience the joy of the Easter Season.

Let us live in Easter joy, unafraid and at peace, for Jesus Christ is Risen!  Let us pray for each other, our parish, our school and our world.

And check out our new parish Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/sjaevanston/

On behalf of the entire staff, a Blessed Easter Season to you and your whole family!

Fr. Dan Costello
Pastor

The first reading today offers us a terrific approach of how to begin this new year: blessing each other. God spells out clearly to Moses to teach this blessing upon his people:

“Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!“

Can you imagine beginning every conversation, every text, every email, every tweet, every letter, every whatever…with such a greeting in our hearts? While that may be an unrealistic expectation, I bet the more often we carry ourselves and approach each other with such a perspective in our hearts, we would be reflecting more sincerely the desire God expressed to Moses, and also to us.

Did you notice an increased attendance at weekend Masses through Advent? I sure did. It occurred to me how much we need each other in our parish, as well as in our workplaces and homes. Whether you are new to the parish or have been part of SJA for decades, please know that you are welcome and that you are needed, because we are about building up the Body of Christ around here and that includes all of us good souls! We have many voices among us, some may be stronger than others, and we need them all. We need you and thank you!

I pray that we continue to value the blessings we enjoy in being the parish that we are, unified in the mission of Jesus Christ in our parish and school and community. As Catholics, may we seek to include the graces of the Sacraments to sustain our lives, especially through the nourishment of the Eucharist regularly, and the experience of God’s loving mercy in Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Body of Christ needs you to be the Body of Christ. Those aren’t just pietistic words…that’s living out the calling each of us received at Baptism. And as it happens, miracles become apparent and our lives are changed.

Thank you for your generosity and kindnesses shown to our parish/school staff and me. We are grateful to be serving in our parish and school, and the spirit of generosity and pitching in together is a great strength in our community. May this coming year be full of the Lord’s abundant blessings upon all of us as we continue the mission Jesus invites us to accomplish in His name.

Do you enjoy gifts?  Most people do. This is one reason why Christmas is so popular.  Our Advent Season of waiting and watching gives way to the joy and holiness of Christmas Day and all it brings: the tearing of wrapping paper, the precious time with friends and family, Christmas Mass, and an extra good meal!

Reflecting upon this past year, we have received many blessings as a parish: a renewed church sanctuary, a new pre-school playground, plenty of much-needed repairs and improvements in our school building, and new friendships and relationships across the parish.  Our Parish Transformation process has given birth to spiritual growth opportunities.  We can look forward to this continuing in 2017 with more events and resources, including a special parish retreat which will be offered next Lent and more formally detailed in early 2017.  The positive movement of the Spirit in our parish will continue to encourage the best from each of us as we increase our awareness of and responsibility to share the mission of Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord provides through the dedication, prayers, and generosity of our parishioners.  That positive Spirit is so often manifested in the many parishioners who volunteer their time, talent and treasures in parish and school functions and we are all so very grateful for the life-giving presence they offer to our parish and school community.

The heart of Christmas is the gift of Jesus Christ who saves us.  He is the gift who overwhelms us with his love and peace, and guides our hearts. May I ask that you prayerfully consider your Christmas gift to St. Joan of Arc this year?  With our school enrollment declining, our budget is particularly tight and our obligations will reduce our available savings.  I am very grateful for your assistance in support of our parish and school.

This Christmas, may we be overwhelmed again by the sheer enormity of God’s gifts to us.  May your heart be full of praise and gratitude and may 2017 be full of the Lord’s graces and blessings upon you and your family. 

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Dan