Dear Parishioners,

I am pleased to announce that after a lengthy and diligent search, we have hired a new Director of Finance and Administration to replace Leanne Van Gronigen who served in this position for four years. You may recall that Leanne was hired at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst for a new position that provided the additional challenge for which she was looking. During our search for her replacement, Leanne continued to work at our parish part time to keep our finances in the excellent condition that she maintained throughout her employment here. I am most grateful for her loyalty and willingness to assist us through that time of transition.

Dear Parishioners,

Pablo Picasso, the renowned artist from Spain, maintained that every act of creation begins with an act of destruction. He was speaking about the context of artistic creativity in which he believed that for one to be truly creative, something from the past must be destroyed so that something new could be born. This principle not only describes the dynamics of making art, but is also the fundamental teaching of the Christian faith, for we believe that from the death of Jesus, the new life of resurrection dawned.

Contemporary movies are challenging to watch and often dubious to recommend. It seems so many contain agenda-laden themes, disturbing violence, immorality, and obscene language. I keep hoping to uncover that diamond in the rough that is worth watching—either in the theater or streaming live in the comfort of my home.

Water changes things.

Have you ever noticed the physique of a swimmer? Swimmers tend to be broad in the shoulders and slim at the waist with arms and legs strengthened by their continual movement in the water. Swimmers surrender their bodies to the water, and as a result the water reshapes them.

Dear Parishioners,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

It is difficult for me to fathom that Easter is here already. It seemed that not all that long ago we were being signed with ashes as a call to repentance. Today we are being invited to break open colored eggs and to, once again, indulge in whatever delectable amenities we put aside for the 40 days of Lent. Perhaps more than any other food, the egg is the one most associated with Easter and with springtime in general.

On a Sunday in February, I gathered with my family and friends to watch the Super Bowl. It was entertaining hearing everyone’s reasons for gathering around the game that day.

Some were cheering on a particular team or player. Others couldn’t wait to view the halftime show or catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift. A few just relished being in the company of friends and family and indulging in the abundance of food and drink. Regardless of each person’s motivation, the Super Bowl provided us with an opportunity to come together in the spirit of fun and camaraderie.

The precise origin of coloring eggs is not known, but it can be traced back to early Greek Christians who colored their eggs red to symbolize the blood of the sacrificed Christ. They also used green in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long “dead” time of winter.

From the time of the early Christians, the tradition Easter basket took its deepest roots in Eastern Europe where it included foods that were rich in symbolism. The basket included those foods which Catholics abstained from during Lent such as meat, eggs, and butter. To this day, the tradition of preparing, blessing, and eating from the basket on Easter Sunday morning flourishes throughout the Catholic Faith.