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Sisters in Christ the Love of Jesus

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Sisters in Christ the Love of Jesus THE EASTER CANDLE Living in Florida, we are prone to with the Light of Christ and light their hurricanes and powerful storms that own individual candles. tend to spring up suddenly over the The Paschal Candle is bigger than waters that surround us and then move any of the other candles that you will onto shore disrupting our plans and notice around the altar or anywhere in creature comforts. I’m sure at some the church. This is because the candle point we’ve all experienced a storm is referred to as a “pillar of fire” during that knocks the power off, and when the Exultet proclamation which is this happens, many of us have reverted proclaimed once the candle is placed back to the use of good old-fashion next to the Ambo during the liturgy after candles in order to have light. Candles its procession has concluded. There don’t provide light as efficiently as is a lot of symbolism that is inscribed modern electric lights tend to do, but on the candle itself. For example, five they provide just enough light to see grains of incense are inserted into what surrounds us and to chase some the candle representing Christ’s five of the darkness away. In this sense, wounds. The first and last letters of the they mirror the sacred – they provide Greek alphabet, the Alpha and Omega, enough light to dispel the darkness are displayed on the candle to remind so that we feel safe and know where us that Christ is the beginning and end to walk or what to focus on, but at the of all things. same time, their light casts shadows You will see this candle present in reminding us that until we reach heaven the sanctuary for every Mass from the and see the beatific vision, God will Easter Vigil until Pentecost. Outside of seem mysterious to us. the Easter Season, you will also see On the holiest night of the year, the the Paschal Candle displayed by the Easter Vigil, a candle is featured prominently Baptismal Font, lit and used during baptisms, during the liturgy. This candle is known as the and lit and displayed by the casket during a Paschal Candle. At the very beginning of the funeral liturgy as a reminder that the person who Easter Vigil liturgy, this candle is lit from the died first began their journey to God with their Easter fire (which begins outside the church) baptism. The lit candle reminds us of how our and then processed into a darkened church. lives eventually come full circle, so to speak. That single flicker of light reminds us that Christ Our church is FULL of deep symbolism and is the light who has come into the world to dispel ancient rituals that express meaning for our lives. the powers of darkness. After the candle makes I hope this article enlightened you (pun intended) its way into the church, light grows throughout to the rich symbolism that is expressed in the the church as Her members come into contact Paschal Candle. May Christ enlighten your mind and heart this Easter Season, Father Tim 3 Easter Sunday Alleluia Deacon Mike Sweeney “When Simon Peter From a questioning faith, arrived after him, he went to one that realized that into the tomb and saw the everything Jesus had taught burial cloths there, and the them was completely true. cloth that had covered his head, not with the In an instant, he realized that the Son of God had burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. just obliterated death. The sadness of knowing Then the other disciple also went in, the one who that when life ended there was nothing else, was had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and annihilated, because Jesus was alive, and the gates believed” John 20:6-8. of heaven were opened to His believers! In John’s Gospel, at first, we see panic on that In Lent, we no longer sing the word “Alleluia.” Easter morning. What had happened to the body During those 40 days, we take a good look at of our Lord? Who had taken it? And where did they ourselves, and we acknowledge the fact that we take it? Why would they want to inflict even more are all sinners. The music style changes. Gone are pain on the disciples? Wasn’t their grief enough? the foot-tapping triumphant songs, as we replace But there was something strange about the tomb. them with more somber tones. We join our Jewish The burial cloths were still there. Why? And why ancestors as they journey through the desert was one of the cloths folded up? toward the Promised Land. It’s a journey of struggle John began processing the scene in his mind, and sacrifice. trying to figure out why someone would rush in and At the end of Lent, we are with Jesus as He hangs steal Jesus’ body, and then waste time by removing upon the cross. Three days later, we again exclaim the burial cloths and folding them. And then John “ALLELUIA!” because the Promised Land opened to figured it out. His body wasn’t stolen. It wasn’t us is no longer a plot of land in the Middle East, but missing. HE HAD RISEN! HEAVEN! Praise God, we are able to journey to that Imagine the moment that John figured it out. Promised Land by living in the Church! Continued Pg. 20 4 Labor of Love Linda Perri Every family has unique When Tom and his children traditions that they pass were going through her personal down from generation to belongings to share with the family, generation. My friends, Tom he came across this craft bag and Sharon Dickey, told me and saw the unfinished piece. He the story of their family was wondering how he could get tradition that I would like to someone to complete this labor share with you. of love to fulfill Sharon’s wish and For many years, Sharon present it to their grandson; even would crochet an afghan for though he is now in college. each of their children (5) and Tom read in the St. Stephen continued to make them for ministry brochure and found that their grandchildren, as well. they had a group of women known About five years ago, Tom as Blessed Stitches. He contacted and Sharon went to Ohio to them, told them his story and they visit their oldest son, Douglas, and their grandson, were very receptive to the idea. They planned to pick up Jack. Sharon thought to bring with her the already the crocheting supplies and unfinished afghan and told started afghan so she could work on it in her spare Tom they would call him when it was completed. Tom felt time. Unfortunately, while she was there, she fell blessed to have found this ministry and was so touched and broke her hip. Sharon was hoping to give this knowing that his wife’s efforts would come to fruition. He gift to Jack for his high school graduation. She made would be able to present Jack with this family treasure. it in his school colors of green and gold, but had to I know Jack will be happy to have such a wonderful put it away until she was feeling better. memory of his grandmother and he will always think of As time went on, Sharon forgot about her her knowing it came from the heart; not only hers, but unfinished project, so it just sat in her craft bag with also from the hearts of the women of Blessed Stitches at no one to work on it. In May 2019, Sharon took ill, St. Stephen. Thank you for all you do by sharing your time again, and passed away that June. and talent with others in our community. Linda Perri has been a parishioner for over 20 years. As new member of Blessings Magazine she says, “Being able to write stories for this ministry warms my heart!” About the cover: John the Baptist’s proclamation, “Behold the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29) is the foretelling of Jesus’ role in salvation history as the sacrificial lamb of God. However, Jesus becomes the triumphant and resurrected Lamb of God on Easter morning. Lent and Easter is a continuum of faith from darkness to light, and our journey with Christ from death to everlasting life. - Rick Tauceda 5 God’s Marvelous Gift of Peace Anonymous May peace from our Father, Jesus, and the In the talks and discussions, I heard Holy Spirit be with you also and remain in other women experiencing the same you forever. basic challenges that I face and found That peace of God is a marvelous gift! His encouragement in their vulnerability and peace recollects us to serenity and health, faith. I felt welcomed, wanted, and served. allows us to breathe in the Word of God, My faith in community was strengthened. and refocuses us on what is truly, eternally My experience of the sacraments was important. Sometimes this peace of mind revitalized. And God took the time to reach and spirit has been hard for me to find in a out and tenderly touch me. world full of distractions and agitations. In response, I made a deep, frank appraisal I vacillated about whether or not to attend of how I stood before the Lord. I did find myself the Welcome weekend. I told myself that unexpectedly lacking, but even more, I found it’s just another demand on my time, that I the overwhelming mercy of God carry me into could encounter the Lord anywhere, and that forgiveness and acceptance.
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