Heavens to murgatory!!  Wasn’t last Sunday an awesome worship experience for our Faith Community?  My hope was that it would touch the hearts of some who might be on the peripheries of the Church and from my own interactions and from stories that others shared, I believe my hope was realized.  Theresa Pottratz headed a leadership team that included Ryan Beke, Mike Beytagh, and Ken Douberly.  They did outstanding work, but I was so pleased to see how so many of you pitched in to make it such a wonderful celebration.  Thanks to all who trusted that this might be a good and Godly experience.  It was!  I look forward to our next Mass at the Pier, perhaps in early Fall to show our contempt for the hurricane gods.
 
Now on to the Solemn Paschal Triduum and Easter.  In the early centuries of the Church Lent originated as a time of prayer and fasting for those who were preparing to enter the Church.  The entire Church quickly caught on to the season, but unfortunately somewhere along the way the roots of Lent were forgotten. Following the reforms of Vatican II, the RCIA (Rite of Christian initiation for Adults) process was re-introduced. Now, the Church once again walks with those who are preparing to enter our faith community.
 
In addition to those who have never been baptized, persons who were baptized into a Protestant church will make a profession of faith at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. The Church recognizes and respects all valid baptisms in Protestant denominations, and therefore never 'rebaptizes' a person unless it is unsure that the person was validly baptized in the first place.
 
Before the reforms of Vatican II, this was all done quietly and privately.  But the Bishops of the Council understood that when a person is baptized or received into the Catholic Church, they are received by Christ into his body, the community of faith. We would think it odd to receive someone into our family when they marry, but to do it quietly without any family celebration. It is the same with the family of faith: we have great cause to rejoice that men and women wish to be part of us, and we celebrate that fact at the Easter Vigil, which is the most important liturgy of the year. 
 
It also is a good time to remind ourselves that we have been given the faith by the grace of the Lord acting through the people who brought us to faith. Every time someone joins the Church, it should prompt us to consider whether we are providing encouragement and good example to them. Again, I hope and pray that last Sunday’s Mass was a great encouragement for some to take a closer look at our faith community.  Further, we should pause to remember and to thank God for the good people who taught us the faith, whether they are parents and grandparents, teachers, friends or neighbors. God has worked through them mightily. May he also mightily work through us to share our faith with others!  In these last few weeks before Easter I’d ask you to pray in a special way for our new member who will be received during the Easter Vigil: Townley Smith.
 

• Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Holy Thursday at 6:00 pm

• Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion – Good Friday at 6:00 pm

• Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord – Holy Saturday at 8:00 pm