In these beautiful passages from Acts and the Gospel of John, we are invited into the very heartbeat of the early Church, a community alive in faith, rooted in the apostles’ teaching, united in fellowship, and sustained by the breaking of the bread and prayer. This is not simply a nostalgic glimpse of a bygone era; it is a living blueprint for us today. The first Christians were not perfect, but they were intentional. They shared what they had, cared for one another, and found joy in the ordinary rhythms of faith lived together. Their witness reminds us that the Church is not merely a place we go, but a way of life we embrace-one that calls us into deeper communion with God and with each other.
In the Gospel we encounter Thomas, who struggles to believe without seeing. How often we find ourselves in his place, longing for certainty in a world full of doubt. Yet notice how gentle and patient the Lord is. He meets Thomas right where he is, offering not condemnation, but peace. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” That blessing is for us. We may not see the wounds of Christ with our eyes, but we encounter Him in the Eucharist, in the community, and in the quiet moments of grace in our lives. Like those early disciples, may we open our hearts to His presence, allowing our doubts to be transformed into faith, and our faith into joyful witness.
Also, many of you have noticed that we put a reliquary cabinet in the side of one of the north confessionals. I am still planning on putting name tags for each relic so you know who we have. We are truly blessed to have these relics and I wanted them to be in a more prominent place that was visible but keeps them safe. Please enjoy venerating these great saints and thank you so much to someone for making my vision come alive so well. Happy Easter!
Father Arisman
“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'” John 20:19
Are you good at making people feel welcome? When you meet someone new, like a new neighbor, a new work colleague or a new parishioner, do you make them feel at home? When we make people feel welcome, we make them feel like they are included instead of being excluded. We are made for relationships – with God and each other. When you see yourself as a beloved son or daughter of God, you tend to see others the same way, too – just as God, Our Father, sees us.