Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”

Thanks to our Deacons for preaching last weekend, Good Shepherd Sunday. We heard that in our Catholic faith we must be “all-in.”

The Fifth Sunday of Easter refers to the role of Jesus Christ in our lives in relation to the Church. The Gospel of John Chapter 15 tells of Jesus as the True Vine and is really and truly the day of Evangelization Awareness.

We have heard that we are all called to be part of the Vine of the Church and part of the Church’s mission to go and bear much fruit.

God daily gives us opportunities to do this. With our St. Vincent de Paul Society, our Youth Group, Knights of Columbus, Women’s Community, Liturgy Groups and our new Mental Health Ministry and other groups, we have many ways to bear more fruit.

I’m away this weekend at a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, helping many back to Jesus’ Mercy, just as Saul needed redemption, forgiveness and healing. No doubt, he was scared about going to meet the apostles. It took Barnabas to intercede for him and to help him reconcile and be accepted.

Similarly, Rachel’s Vineyard retreats uses good disciples to help many women and men to profoundly experience God’s love and compassion, creating a place to share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion and to heal and return to Jesus, the True Vine.

The Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion will take place at 1:30PM on Sunday of this weekend, April 28th, in the Church. The Dean of our Deanery, Fr. Don Kline and his Deacon will be here with us for this very special day. Thanks to Dr. Larry Fraher and Dr. Isabella Rice and to all of our catechists, helpers and, of course, our families for all of their great work this past year.

Appointments & Announcements:
Some changes and reassignments of priests, deacons and seminarians often happen at this time of the year. In fact, several parishes received new pastors last weekend, Good Shepherd Sunday. Bishop John Dolan has asked me to announce the following appointments:
Fr. Joe Karikunnel, CST, will be moving to St. Clement of Rome Parish in Sun City on April 30th, beginning there on May 1st.
Fr. Samuel Aliba will be coming to Blessed Sacrament Parish on July 1st.
Ryan Wiensch, a seminarian for the Diocese of Phoenix, will be assigned to Blessed Sacrament Parish in June/July.
Stephen Mikitish, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and his fiancée, Camille, will be married next weekend.

Congratulations to All Involved. May 3rd and 4th are the First Friday and Saturday of the Month. We will have our beautiful devotions after the morning Masses. Confessions are at 5PM, before the 6PM Mass and our Miraculous Medal Novena and ProLife Rosary are on Tuesday evening.

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