Bulletin for the week of April 14, 2002

Third Sunday of Easter

Have you ever told something exciting to a young child and watched his or her reaction? They find it almost impossible to contain their joy and they want to share the news with others. Today’s Gospel passage ends in this fashion, but at he beginning of our story we hear about Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus with two of His disciples. He doesn’t reveal His identity. Instead Jesus allowed the disciples to recount everything that happened concerning His death and the empty tomb. Jesus responded to their story by saying, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" We shouldn’t think that Jesus is mad at the disciples; remember that He was the one stringing them along. Rather, Jesus’ reaction is that of a loving mentor trying to open the eyes of His pupils. But their eyes still were not open, even when He recounted to them all the Scripture passages that referred to Him. What finally opened their eyes was the breaking of bread with Jesus. Their reaction was to travel to Jerusalem and share their discovery with the Apostles. This is what we are called to do as well, especially in the Easter season. Just as a child share his joy, the excitement of the Resurrection and our own encounter with the risen Christ in the Eucharist cannot be contained.

First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7. We reach the third significant stage of the history of salvation: the exodus through the desert. It is here that God tests the people and that the people put God to the test. Tortured by thirst, Israel begins to doubt the fidelity of the Lord. At the prayer of Moses, God produces a miracle. Water springs forth from a rock.

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8. We, who are filled with the Holy Spirit, are refreshed along the road of our exodus. Thus we boast of our hope.

Gospel: John 4:5-42. The encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus provides John with the opportunity to trace the progressive steps of faith. Awakened by the testimony of others or by a crucial event, faith becomes a personal encounter with the Savior. The believer, who is brought by the Spirit into the mystery of Jesus, is transformed and sent forth.

I write as we priests and pastoral administrators are about to gather for the annual convocation. This is a time of support and dialogue about the matters of pastoral ministry that we share in common in the local church. We serve best when we serve people the good news of Easter and the Resurrection of our Lord.

As we celebrate these fifty days of Easter, we actually are all called to walk a journey of faith. In the case of those walking to Emmaus, they may have been too self-absorbed to recognize who walked with them. Their conversation was about the events "that had happened." Most of us do the same talk. We are most likely caught up with the problems, fears, anxieties and routines that keep us from looking up and outward, to others and to our future. What a wonderful reward these pilgrims gained as the unrecognized Lord drew them out of themselves. He pointed to the sacred writings they knew and the hope that they cherished. In staying with the journey and generously inviting the stranger to sup with them, they became doubly blessed. Not only had their hearts become burning with the Spirit they also "knew Jesus" in the breaking of the bread.

A few weeks ago on Easter Sunday we saw the church packed with those who hunger for a touch of spirituality and God. We can all be servants of both our neighbors and our Lord in our naturally easy ways of conversing about matters of faith. We can invite our friends and relatives to look once again to Jesus and to a relationship with Him. Peter in his preaching did this. Paul in his letters was always evangelizing and we in our relationships can bring people to God and God to people.

Give it a try. Happy Easter.

Father Bill

4:30pm Junior High Youth Group (Hall)

6:30pm Senior High Youth Group (Hall)

7:00pm Prayer Group

7:15pm Pastoral Council Meeting (Hall)

7:00pm Folk Group Rehearsal (Church)

7:30-9:00pm Choir Rehearsal (Church0

Actual $6,904.61 $282,229.55

Attendance 1,088

# of Envelopes 297

Same Week Last Year $7,691.00

Our Golden Agers will meet Tuesday, April 23^rd, 2002 for the 9:00 am Mass. Following mass we will hold our Meeting in the Parish Center. After our meeting we will work on the Festival Tickets. Nor arrangements will be made for lunch. Please call Florence at 293-2585 if you can’t make the meeting.

We will have our Spring Clothing Drive in May this year, so get your spring and summer clothes out and packed up and marked either Men’s, Women’s, or Children’s. This year’s dates are May 11^th thru May 18^th. Please plan on helping us pack on Saturday, May 18^th at 9:00am.

The Jr. and Sr. High Youth Groups will be going to Spencerport Bowl on Friday, April 12th. If you are in grades 6-12, and you are interested, please return the permission slip available at youth group meetings or in the mailbox outside of the youth office by Wednesday, April 10th. The cost is posted on the permission slip. We will be leaving from St. Christopher’s at 6:30pm on Friday, April 12th. If you have any questions, please contact Paul Symington at the Youth Office: 594:1091

Through the Apostolate of Mercy program, the Advancement Office of the Sisters of Mercy offers you the opportunity to obtain beautifully hand inscribed special occasion prayer cards as gifts or remembrances. The inscribed cards may be mailed from or picked up at the motherhouse. To order cards by telephone, please call Sister Mary Eymard Hyland at 585-288-2710 x103, or the motherhouse receptionist at 585-482-5442.

A Memorial Program through which deceased loved ones and special friends may be honored in a special way is also available.

In both programs, the designee’s name is enrolled in a memorial book in the motherhouse chapel, to be remembered in the Eucharistic liturgies and prayers of the sisters.

Envelopes to enroll persons in both programs and/or further information may be obtained from Shirley Brownell in the Advancement Office at 585- 288-2710 x122.

Circle the date: Monday, April 22, 2002 from 7 to 9 pm, here at St. Christopher’s. Conversations with Women in the Bible, presented by Gloria Ulerino. Gloria brings biblical women to life with her unique approach to story-telling, enactments and discussion. Look for more information on next week’s bulletin announcement…but don't miss this program. Mark your calendar. It will be a worthwhile, stimulating evening.

Holy Family Parish would like to thank you for providing warm mittens, hats and scarves for our many needy families, as well as, for the children at Holy Family and St. Monica Schools. We all profited "warmly" from the wonderful generosity of your parishioners.

Sr. Lorraine Burns, SSND, and Sr. Mary Marvin, RSM, principals of Holy Family and St. Monica Schools were delighted with the gift and with the enthusiasm of the children as they tried them on for size. Now they wear them with pride.

April 18^th — at 7:30pm — Nazareth College Orchestra

May 17^th — at 7:30pm — Cathedral School Choir

June 9^th — at 3:00pm — Mayor Johnson’s Organ Concert

All of these concerts are open to the public. Concert goers may choose to make a free-will donation. Reception following each concert.

The future of our Church will depend on more lay involvement for leadership positions. Anyone who would like to find out more about these opportunities and the qualifications/requirements/education necessary is invited to attend any of the following information session: April 17th in the Msgr. Ball room next to St. Francis deSales Church in Geneva, Wednesday, April 24th at St. Bernard's, 1100 South Goodman Street in Rochester or May 8th at St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads. All sessions will run from 7-8:30. For reservations or information please contact Tom McDade-Clay at 271-3657, ext. 289 or Barb Pedeville at 328-3228, ext. 215.

Legislation is pending in the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly that forces Catholic schools, hospitals and social services agencies to provide employees insurance coverage for prescription birth control and infertility treatments. These pieces of legislation contain weak or no "conscience clauses" which protect religious organizations from being forced to perform morally objectionable procedures. This legislation violates our basic right to free expression of religion. It sets a precedent for forcing Catholic institutions to provide or purchase other morally objectionable services such as abortion.

Lawmakers need to hear that our church’s ability to perform its life-affirming mission in the name of Jesus Christ is in jeopardy and that we care.

Bishop Matthew Clark asks that you contact your state representatives today and make your voice heard. State senators may be contacted at NYS Senate, Legislative Office Building, Albany NY 12247; telephone (518) 455-2800. Assembly persons may be contacted at NYS Assembly, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248; telephone (518) 455-4100.

Additional information on conscience clauses is available at www.dor.org/conscienceclause or through your regional peace and justice representative.