May 1, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ,

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear Jesus Christ tell his disciples he is like a vine and his Father, the vine grower. Through this metaphor, our Lord conveys to his followers – and by extension, to all of us – that he remains with us always, even in death. In his teachings before the crowds, in his breaking of the bread at the Last Supper, and in his death on the cross, Jesus Christ showed his disciples their ministry after his earthly death: telling the Gospel truth and serving others. We, too, are called to follow this example.

Like a good vine grower, God has provided us with all we need to hear his call. Opportunities for a rich prayer life. The living word in Scripture. The Holy Mass and the Eucharist, which continues to nourish us and transform us, in ways we do not see. We must only be open to his call and say yes.

As we turn our calendar to this first day of May, I want to share with you Pope Francis’ appeal for a global prayer marathon this month to end the pandemic. Every day this month, there will be a livestream from one of 30 chosen Marian shrines or sanctuaries to guide the prayer at 6 pm Rome time (noon, local time) on all Vatican media platforms. See the English-language list of shrines and prayer intentions. We can also join in this communal prayer through our participation in our own daily Liturgy of the Hours and our virtual Rosaries, prayed at 6:30 pm Tuesdays in Spanish and at 4 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in English. Please join us in this global prayer for an end to the pandemic. Read more in the Catholic Standard.  

I wish you all a blessed and wonderful start to your week!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John