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A Message From Our Chaplain
To The Faithful Columbiettes,
I urge you to take a moment and reflect on which aspect of this life seems to be most difficult. While there is surely no shortage of hardships I would venture to say that "death" would be the most common reply. As human beings, when we we mention death, we think of darkness, sadness, grief and loss. In short, we think of "an end." However, as Catholics, we can rejoice in everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior whose suffering, crucifixtion and death lead to the very foundation of our faith: The Resurrection.
As so many of you proudly hold the title of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and Godmothers, I ask you to examine your faith by putting yourselves in the position of our Patroness, the Virgin Mary. Our Blessed Mother possessed such great trust in God from the very start of her journey that started with a Virgin Birth, the trials of raising a Son, watching Him be tortured and mocked, crucified, and dying, yet maintaining an unwavering belief in God's promises; a belief that led to Christ's Resurrection and our Lady's Assumption.
While the trials and tribulations of our earthly lives and the imminent ending through death are not easy realistic truths to face, I implore you to rely on the teachings of our Faith, the model of our Patroness and the Miracle of Easter. Trust in God knowing that just as Jesus told Martha, the sister of Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." (John 11: 25-26), we as faithful followers through the grace of the Sacraments and living according to His will will basque in the glory of eternal union with God in the Heavenly Kingdom.
During this Easter Season, I pray that your faith is reinvigorated and strengthened as you witness the victory of light over darkness, faith over fear and Eternal Life over death. I wish you and your families a Blessed and Happy Easter.
In Christ,
Monsignor David L. Cassato
Faith Resources
Below are resources to explore our faith. Come back often to find new resources to continue your Faith journey
April Feast Days
(* denotes Auxiliaries celebrating the feast day)
Apr 1 - St. Hugh of Grenoble
Apr 2 - St Francis of Paola, Hermit/St Mary of Egypt, Hermitess
Apr 3 -St. Richard, Bishop/St. Luigi Scrosoppi
Apr 4 -St Isadore, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Apr 5 -St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest
*Delray Beach, FL
Apr 6 -St. William of Eskilsoe, Abbott, Confessor
Apr 7 -St. John Baptiste de la Salle, Priest
Apr 8 - St Julia Billiart
Apr 9 - St. Mary Cleophas
Apr 10 - St. Fulbert Bishop/Magdalena of Canossa
Apr 11 - St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr/St. Gemma Galgani
Apr 12 -St. Julius I, Pope/St. Zeno
Apr 13 - Pope St. Martin I, Martyr/Blessed Margaret of Castello/Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Apr 14 - St. Lydwine of Schiedam
Apr 15 - St. Hunna of Strasbourg
Apr 16 - St. Bernadette Soubirous (Incorrupt)/St. Benedict Joseph Labre
Apr 17 - St Stephen Harding, Abbot/St. Kateri Tekakwitha/Holy Thursday (Solemnity)
Apr 18 - St. Apollonius, Martyr/Good Friday (Solemnity)
Apr 19 - St. Leo IX, Pope
Apr 20 - St. Agnes of Montepulciano/Easter Sunday (Solemnity)
Apr 21 - St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church
Apr 22 - St. Opportuna, Abbess/St. Pope Soter & St. Pope Caius
Apr 23 - St. Adalbert of Prague, Archbishop/St. George, Martyr
Apr 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, Martyr
Apr 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist
Apr 26 - Our Lady of Good Counsel/St. Marcellinus, Pope, Martyr
Apr 27 - The Feast of Divine Mercy/ St. Zita
* Largo, FL
Apr 28 - St Louis de Montfort, Priest/ St. Gianna Beretta Molla
Apr 29 - St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church
Apr 30- St. Pius V, Pope/St. Marie de l'Incarnation
Holy Week
Holy Week is the most important week in Catholicism. This week of great reverence and reflection spans the final eight days of Jesus’ life—from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is astounding how much wisdom, insight and inspiration are available to us during this one week. Here is just a sample of what happens during Holy Week:
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Palm Sunday, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem
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Monday of Holy Week, Jesus clears out the temple
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Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus is anointed with oil at Bethany and preaches on the Mount of Olives
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Wednesday of Holy Week, Jesus is betrayed by Judas
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Holy Thursday, Jesus celebrates the Last Supper, prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, and is arrested
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Good Friday, Jesus is sentenced to death, scourged, beaten, crucified, and dies on the Cross
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Holy Saturday, Jesus is buried in the tomb and descends into hell
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Easter Sunday, Jesus rises from the dead
We are all trying to make sense of life. One way for us to understand our lives is to look at them through the great experiences that happen during Holy Week. Just try this exercise–at the end of every day, ask yourself, “What sort of day did I have today? Did I have an Ash Wednesday day, or did I have an Easter Sunday day? Did I have a Good Friday day, or did I have a Holy Saturday day?"
What defines those sorts of days? Good Friday is an easy one—it's a day of suffering and sacrifice. What's Holy Saturday? It's a day of darkness, doubt, anxiety, confusion, and a day where faith is tested. What’s Easter Sunday? It’s a day of new life.
We're trying to make sense of our lives, and God is constantly trying to help us make sense of them. These great moments in the life of the Church and the life of Jesus provide powerful lenses through which we can see our lives in a new way, expanding our understanding of ourselves and others.
The Paschal Sequence
CHRIST the Lord is ris’n today;
Christians, haste your vows to pay;
Offer now your praises meet
At the Paschal Victim’s feet.
For the sheep the Lamb has bled,
Sinless in the sinner’s stead;
Christ the Lord is ris’n on high;
Now he lives, no more to die.
Christ, the Victim undefiled,
God and sinners reconciled;
When in strange and awful strife
Met together death and life;
Christians, on this happy day
Haste with joy your vows to pay.
Christ the Lord is ris’n on high;
Now he lives, no more to die.
Say, O wond’ring Mary, say
What you saw along your way.
“I beheld where Christ had lain,
Empty tomb and angels twain.
I beheld the glory bright
Of the risen Lord of light.
Christ my hope is ris’n again;
Now he lives, and lives to reign.”
Christ, who once for sinners bled,
Now the firstborn from the dead,
Throned in endless might and pow’r,
Lives and reigns forevermore.
Hail, eternal Hope on high!
Hail, our King of victory!
Hail, our Prince of life adored!
Help and save us, gracious Lord.
