Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

       Happy Third Sunday of our Easter Season!  We continue to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord   This past Friday, both our own Catholic school and most of our local public schools, went on Spring Break.  I’m sure that we’ll have a lot of people traveling this week and going to Mass at other places.  If you are visiting St. Maria Goretti this weekend on your Spring Break travels, we welcome you to our Parish family and we pray for all travelers this week, that God get them safely to and back from their destinations.  Fr. Dale left yesterday and is traveling on a pilgrimage with students from St. Theodore Guerin High School, down to the shrines of Mexico.  Please keep Fr. Dale and the group in your prayers this week on their pilgrimage. 

       Last weekend was such an amazing weekend for our Parish family!  We had so many things going on, all on the same weekend.  Our Principal, Rebecca Neidlinger, was married to fellow Parishioner, Chris Hammel, last Saturday afternoon, in a beautiful wedding Mass.  We congratulate both Rebecca and Chris on their marriage!  The school children and I are all trying really hard to get used to “Mrs. Hammel” now.  I’d like to thank Sheila O’Laughlin, Colleen Ward, and every one from the PTO and the school community who helped plan and coordinate our festivities here.  It was a great day not only for Rebecca and Chris, but for our whole community! 

       Last Sunday, we also celebrated the new Feast of Divine Mercy.  I offer my sincere thanks to Rhonda O’Malley, who heads up our Divine Mercy devotion, for her untiring support and hard work, to keep devotion to the Divine Mercy an important part of all of our spiritual lives.  I’d also like to thank our musicians who led the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM, and Fr. Dale who so graciously agreed to hear Confessions for Divine Mercy on Sunday afternoon. 

       And finally thanks to EVERYONE who helped with last weekend’s Women’s Christ Renews His Parish.  Last weekend, more than ever before, I realized just how many people are now involved in putting on a Christ Renews His Parish weekend.  The team putting on the weekend, of course, does so much to get the weekend ready.  But really, from the AGAPE service on Friday evening, to the bringing in of the meals, to the keeping Adoration going the whole weekend, to all the prayers, letters, sacrifices, and other gestures of kindness, hundreds of our brothers and sisters were involved in putting on last weekend’s experience.  There were even a group of guys that kept guard/vigil outside the school entrance where the women were entering for Adoration in the middle of the night, just to make sure that everybody stayed safe and sound.  It’s such an extraordinary experience.  Quite obviously, Christ Renews has touched a LOT of lives and all of us are VERY committed to it.  Thanks again to EVERYONE who helped out.  And if you haven’t made a Christ Renews His Parish weekend yet, when’s going to be the right time for you?  The next men’s Christ Renews His Parish weekend is Sept. 27^th & 28^th, and the next women’s Christ Renews His Parish is Oct. 11^th & 12^th this Fall.   Plan now to attend!

       Last weekend, I mentioned our Diocese’s statement concerning the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure.  Because of bulletin deadlines and the fact that these letters go in several days in advance, I was not aware when I wrote last weekend’s letter, that the issue would become a point of contention between the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and our Diocese.  Perhaps some of you have seen the stories on the local newscasts.  The Susan B. Komen organization in Marion County does say that they do NOT give ANY money to Planned Parenthood.  Unfortunately, the problem is that nationally, several other “chapters” of the organization do give money to Planned Parenthood.  We stand with Lafayette and our Bishop.  The Susan B. Komen organization does way too much good to be associated with Planned Parenthood.  All ties everywhere to Planned Parenthood should be eliminated.  Hopefully, all of us, from within the organization, from within the Church, and even as supporters of the Race for the Cure, can work together to make that happen.

Have a great week!  Let us keep one another in prayer!

In Christ,

Fr. Kevin

“Half-an-hour’s listening is essential except when you are very busy.  Then a full-hour is needed”

                                                                                                                                     -  St. Francis de Sales