Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Laetare Sunday We are celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Lent which offers a foretaste of Easter joy. The priest's vestments this Sunday are rose because we celebrate Laetare Sunday. The entrance antiphon chanted at the beginning of Mass begins with the word "rejoice”. “Rejoice in Jerusalem, rejoicе with her, all you who love her..." God wants us to be filled with hope and joy. In a world that can beat us up and steal our peace, Our Lord desires for us to experience His joyful presence in our lives.

It should not be a surprise that when someone chooses to live a sad and angry life they will often end up depressed and sick in body and soul. I get it. There are those who, through no fault of their own, suffer with great sorrow, anxiety, stress, and depression. For them, life is a challenge. There is help and hope available through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. Our Lord heals broken hearts and comforts those who suffer. You are never alone.

Laetare Sunday is not about denying our suffering. Rather, today is meant to focus our attention on the joy that Christ can give. Our Lord can bring us the peace and healing that we long for throughout our life. Jesus offers us this grace through the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist. Saint Teresa of Ávila distinguished joy into types: "Holy Joy," that which comes to us through the grace of God and the sacramental life, and "Foolish Joy," which is only temporary happiness. The latter sort of "joy" is a feeling which lasts a short while, ultimately leaving a person unhappier and perhaps bitter. On this Sunday, dedicated to joy, Our Lord invites His disciple to "Holy Joy" in Him despite life's difficulties.

Another reason to be joyful is that our Adoration Chapel has just become our Perpetual Adoration Chapel! This means that we have committed Adorers praying before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is an answer to our prayers and happens because of the love and sacrifice of God's people. I am so grateful to our committed Adorers who sacrifice one hour a week to spend time with Our Eucharistic King. The grace and blessings poured out to our parish and beyond will have eternal consequences because of these committed Adorers' sacrifice and love. Thank you!

Hopefully, you have seen the Holy Week schedule in our bulletin, our emails, and on our social media. I hope and pray that you can participate in these liturgical activities, especially the Easter Triduum, where we will welcome the Elect into full communion in our Catholic Church. Let's prepare our hearts and minds for these significant celebrations and pray for our Elect as they continue to respond to Our Lord's call to follow Him.

At this time, 159 of our parishioners have made a contribution to the Charity and Development Appeal. The total collected so far is $89,290. Our goal given to us by the Diocese of Phoenix is $205,060. I am truly grateful to those who have already responded so generously. At the same time, I respectfully invite the rest of our community to prayerfully consider participating. The Church is not an abstract institution. The Catholic Church is us. The mission of the diocese is our shared mission. If each family makes a sacrifice according to its means, we will not only reach our goal, but perhaps even surpass it.

Lent is a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Supporting this appeal is a concrete way to live out this call to charity and communion. Let us ensure that the responsibility does not fall on only a small percentage of our parish family. I encourage each of you to bring this to prayer and ask the Lord: "What are You asking me to offer?" With the participation of all, I am confident that we will meet our goal and continue strengthening the mission of the Church in our diocese.

May this Lent be a true season of renewal for each of us.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline

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