From the desk of Monsignor Bride                   
Two weeks ago we began the beautiful Easter Season with the celebration of Easter Sunday.  We are spending 40 days in celebration of this glorious feast. Our bulletin cover now shows the beautiful Flemish painting of the Resurrection. This is our traditional picture, highlighting this magnificent celebration.  We shall shortly have First Holy Communion, and Ordination to the Diaconate, of three men who have served here.
Our Easter sanctuary, as does the entire Church, reflects this season and reminds us of the beauty and faith we share as Christ is Risen from the tomb. In our sanctuary, we have a large Easter display. This is central to the meaning of Easter and portrays just what Easter means to us.
Firstly, there is the empty draped Cross. The white drape across the cross indicates that once there was a body nailed to that cross. It is called a shroud. You will find this displayed in many Churches at Easter, because it signifies the death of the Lord after being crucified.
In front of the cross and shroud is the beautiful Easter Candle. This is the Easter symbol. It is blessed on Holy Saturday during the great vigil of Easter. On it are the five wounds of Jesus, 2 for his hands, 2 for his feet, and 1 for his side. Our Easter Candle has these in imitation of the actual nails that pierced our Lord. There is the decorated cross with the Alpha and Omega symbol, indicating that the resurrected Lord is the beginning and the end of all. Usually, there is the year of the celebration of the Easter season. It is lighted for every Mass during the 50 days of Easter, from the Easter Vigil until the night of Pentecost Sunday.  It will have a prominent place near the baptismal font throughout the year in Church.
In front of the Easter or Paschal Candle, there is the bowl of Easter water. This is so important for us, because it is through our Baptism that we receive the resurrected life of Jesus into our very selves. When Christ instituted the sacramental system, he did so that His Resurrection might be shared with each and every one of us, intimately and personally.  It is not just a sacred event we memorialize from the perspective of history, but an actual happening that is ours today.  Renew the Holy Water you have at home or should have at home. It is important for every Catholic to have Holy Water in the home to be used for blessing, to remove danger, for the sick and as a reminder of our Baptism.
Lastly, there is the large stone, which is so connected to the burial of Christ at the closing of the tomb on Good Friday and the rolling back of the stone on Easter morning. In the movie “the Passion of the Christ,” this was the showing of the resurrected Christ. The empty tomb is seen as the open door to the fullness of the new life of Easter.
This is all displayed in the garden of new life. This makes this Feast so beautiful, so positive, and so real. Rejoice!  The Lord is Risen just as he said!

                                             Monsignor Bride
                                     
We are celebrating the 50 days of the beautiful and glorious Easter Season.  Celebrate this wonderful time.  We have had a tough winter with avery mild December, a very cold January and February with several bad storms.  Easter is here.  Christ is here.  New life is here.  Grace is here.  Celebrate these 50 days
with faith, with joy and with hope.

2007 Annual Bishop’s Appeal
“The gift you have been given, give as a gift”
The Annual Bishop’s Appeal (ABA), which supports the work of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Norwich, will be conducted in every Parish over the next few weeks.  The ABA is not just another Sunday collection.  It is a unified effort in which all Catholics of the Diocese of Norwich join together to further the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church in eastern Connecticut.  In the next few weeks, you will be receiving a letter, brochure and pledge envelope from Bishop Cote.  Please take the time to prayerfully consider what you are able to give in support of our Diocesan Church.

RICE BOWL RETURNS
There are containers in the rear of the Church to collect your Rice Bowl offering boxes.  This is the annual Lenten Almsgiving offering and it goes to feed the hungry.  Now that Lent is over, we wish to send our returns to the Diocese.
Please make your returns asap.

New Choir Director
Monsignor Bride has asked CELESTE MILUKAS to become the new Director of the Choir and she has accepted.  Those who attended Holy Week Services saw Celeste in action on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.  She is a superb musician and brings multiple talents to this important position in our parish.  Thank you, Celeste!
Celeste is the wife of Marcus Milukas and the mother of Matthew, Alaina, and Jenna. She is the daughter of Ronnie Furman and the late Gerry Furman.
Parish Family Group
The Parish Family Group will meet on this Tuesday, April 24th  at 6:30 P.M. as a final prepatory meeting to discuss Monsignor’s 40th Anniversary Pot Luck Supper.  Volunteers are needed. Try to come to the meeting on Tuesday night. This is a most important meeting so we can be sure all lose ends are taken care of.

Monsignor Bride’s Anniversary
We are planning a very special Pot-Luck Supper in honor of Monsignor Bride’s 40th Anniversary of Ordination.    However, like Sister Michelle’s 25th Anniversary here, all parishioners will supply the remaining food. We need the help of everyone,  even if your schedule does not permit you to attend.

Try to make a dish that will serve 10 people. This will insure we have enough food.   Thank you.
                                      The Committee  

Announced Masses

Monday, April 23rd    Easter Weekday
7:30 A.M.  Intention of Celebrant
Tuesday, April 24th   Easter Weekday
7:30 A.M. Joseph Muscarella  (Family)
Wednesday, April 25th    St. Mark , Evangelist
7:30 A.M.  David King  (OLPH Choir)
Thursday, April 26th      Easter Weekday
7:30 A.M.  Parishioners of OLPH
Friday, April 27th     Easter Weekday
7:30 A.M.  Alexander & Catherine Tuneski
                                     (M/M Edward Tunseki)