Dear Friends,
Jesus today calls himself the GOOD SHEPHERD in the reading from the Gospel of John, Chapter 10. And he says that the shepherd stays with the sheep even when it is difficult while someone who is just hired for money to stay for a while with the sheep will run when there is trouble: But he will not, because he loves the sheep.
Well, what a way to describe our God – like a shepherd in Israel 2000 years ago. In Israel at that time, shepherds never left their sheep, and they slept out in the rain and snow (there is snow in Israel sometimes) and in the blazing heat. And this is an image of our God for us – that no matter where our life leads us, our God is with us. And since Jesus rose from the dead that Easter morning long ago, now we know that Jesus is alive and always by our side. And through the CROSS we KNOW that he loves us enough to die for us. I will follow that kind of God. Amen.
The Adoration Chapel/Oratory at St. Philip Neri and for BOTH St. Clement and St. Philip Neri parishioners opened on Sunday, April 14th. You can sign up NOW going to https://adorationpro.org/scspn. You can sign up for once a week or twice a month or once a month for a given hour.
We are looking for people to cover the hours of the chapel 24/7, BUT ALSO, please know that you might find some friends and agree to SHARE AN HOUR so that you can come when you are able, but that if you have to miss a given week, that you will have friends to cover the hour.
OR, if it is more helpful, maybe just make a personal commitment to come 15 minutes once a week, especially at times when the parish offices are open (M-F 9am - 3pm) or during Mass times on the weekends or during the week when the church is also open. Non-parishioners are also invited to sign up.
On Wednesday, April 24th at 7pm we will start the first of three sessions outlining our Catholic faith. It will be presented by Fr. Andy and will be called “Catholicism 101.” It will be in the main church at St. Philip Neri. All are invited. If you are a Catholic who has been baptized and has received your first Communion, please contact Fr. Andy at aaaron@archbalt.org about attending all three classes and then receiving your Confirmation on Friday, May 3rd at 5:30pm.
On Saturday, May 11th we will have a morning of reflection about the Mass for all in both our parishes. It will be at St. Philip Neri and will start with Mass at 9am followed by coffee at 9:35a and then a talk about the Eucharist and Prayer at 10am followed by short breakouts where parishioners who lead different ministries will give out information for those who are already involved or might want to get involved: Ushers, Greeters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, etc. from both parishes.
On Thursday, May 16th at 7pm we will have a bilingual ROSARY at St. Clement complete with a monstrance outdoors and lit by 100 candles.
Please mark your calendar for our parish picnic at St. Philip Neri on Sunday, May 19th after the 11:30am Mass.
Peace!
Fr. Andy