Pastor's Note from Fr. Szparagowski 📝 - [Mar 22nd Bulletin]

Dear St. Philip Neri Family and Friends,

We give praise and thanks to God for His graces and blessings in our lives. The Gospel of John tells us the moving story of Lazarus and the deep love of Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes to the tomb of His friend, the Gospel gives us the shortest verse in Scripture: "Jesus wept." Those two words reveal something powerful. They show us the humanity of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, yet He shares fully in our human experience. He knows grief. He knows the pain of loss. He knows what it feels like to stand at the grave of someone we love.

Many of us know that feeling. We know what it is like to lose a parent, a spouse, a sibling, or a dear friend. We miss them deeply. Their absence leaves an ache in our hearts. Just like Martha and Mary said to Jesus, many of us have cried out in our own sorrow. Yet this Gospel also reminds us that death is not the end for those who belong to God.

As Catholics, we believe something beautiful and profound. At every Mass, heaven and earth come together. The Church teaches that when we gather around the altar, we are not alone. The angels and saints in heaven and the souls of the faithful departed are united with us in prayer and praise of God. They attend every Mass. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we join in the worship of heaven itself.

This is something I often remind people when they miss their loved ones who have gone before them. Yes, we miss them dearly. We feel their absence in our homes and in our daily lives. But when we come to Mass, we are closer to them than we may realize. The souls of the faithful departed are present in the great communion of the Church. They join in praising and worshiping God. In a mysterious but very real way, when we come to Mass, they are beside us, worshiping God with us. They come and sit right next to us. Talk to our loved ones at that moment.

When we bow before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we are joining the worship of heaven. The saints adore Christ. The angels adore Him. And the souls who have gone before us in faith also praise Him. So, when you come to Mass and you miss someone you love, remember this:

You are not separated in the way the world thinks.

The communion of the Church is stronger than death.

They are close.

They are praising God.

And together—with the Church on earth and the Church in heaven—we worship the Lord present in the Eucharist.

Please invite someone to Mass today.

St. Philip Neri, pray for us.

Fr. Szparagowski