Beloved Parishioners,

As we continue our celebration of the Risen Lord, I share with you some Easter updates and upcoming events in the parish.

First, I wish to say a big thanks to everyone who participated in the Charity and Development Appeal of this year. It is amazing to see the effort by many of you to ensure that we reach our goal this year. I wish to announce that we have reached our goal and even exceeded it through your generosity, sacrifices and commitment that this was accomplished. I thank you and pray God’s blessings on every one of you.

Beloved Parishioners,

This week I share reflection on Divine Mercy as this Sunday is specially devoted to embracing the Divine Mercy of God. “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” This immortal prayer of Divine Mercy devotion reminds us of the need for God’s mercy in our lives, and ties together the passion of the Lord with the Easter we celebrate. Thus, we are invited today to immerse ourselves in the ocean of divine compassion, to bask in the radiance of the risen Christ, and to be transformed by the power of His mercy.

Today we celebrate the greatest solemnity of our Faith; the foundation on which our hope and faith as Christian stands. We celebrate and rejoice that Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. By rising from the dead, He has defeated the power of death, Satan, evil forces, falsehood, and injustice and took the Glory. God made Him to rise from the dead to prove that He has power over life and death. As Paul would say, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and our faith is in vain.” 1 Cor 15:14-15. But because Christ has been raised, we have hope, and our faith is credible and that is what we celebrate. That is the reason we shout Alleluia! Alleluia! Indeed, the Lord has truly risen.

The passion narrative gives us an insight of what Jesus suffered for us, especially the love He has for us that made Him endure all the insults and humiliation for our sake. Today’s liturgy does not require a long homily but to allow the events of the passion story to speak directly to us in the silence of our heart. Our meditation is on Jesus’ suffering and death for our sake. He came and gave Himself completely to us by His preaching, miracles and healing and finally of giving Himself in humility on the cross.

Beloved Parishioners,

As our Lenten season gradually draws to a close, I wish to communicate to you about Our Holy Week and Easter Celebration which would be good if you take note of some of the changes. Its aim is to update you and keep you informed of the activities at these sacred moments and assist us in deep appreciation of the great mystery of our salvation which has roots in the old tradition of the church.

Beloved Parishioners,

Today, I intend to share a reflection with you on exploring the depth of prayer. It was St. John Damascene who gave that classic definition of prayer, as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24). The Catechism further tries to reinforce that point when it teaches that prayer is a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC, no. 2558).

In today’s first reading we are called to a complete obedience and respect for God’s commandment if we are to maintain a good relationship with God and with one another. God’s commandment is designed for our good and when we obey it for what it is, it gives meaning to our lives as the only way we can demonstrate our love for God is to keep His commandments. Thus, Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel “If you love me keep my commandment.” Jn 14:15