WEEKEND OF APRIL 24-25, 2021

Dear Friends,

    This weekend we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, since every year on this fourth Sunday of the Easter season we encounter the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who, as he so beautifully reminds us, “lays down his life for his sheep.” Jesus as the Good Shepherd is a perfect manifestation of God’s love for us: God loves us so much that he is willing to do anything at all to bring us back to his love, and he wants us, more than anything, to experience that love in the Church.

    Perhaps this day can remind us that we are all, by virtue of our baptism, good shepherds, since it is really the work of all of us who claim to be disciples, to bring others back to the love of God, especially within the Church. Maybe this is a good time for us to think of those in our lives who need God and who have been, for whatever reason(s), alienated from the Church. Invite them to Saint Timothy’s, or take some of our church bulletins and either give them to these folks personally or mail them to them. You know that they will be warmly welcomed here, and will experience a loving community and a beautiful celebration of God’s Word and Sacrament in the sacred liturgy. As I always say, YOU may be the instrument God uses to bring someone back to his love. Remember, encourage them and invite them, but don’t nag them! Plenty of our bulletins are available at the entrance of church.

I am happy to tell you that one of our long time parishioners, John O’Farrell, was ordained a deacon of the Church on Saturday, April 10th by Bishop Michael Burbidge, the Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, in the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington. John is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gerald O’Farrell and the brother of Thomas O’Farrell, who is still a faithful parishioner of Saint Timothy’s.

John had a long career with the U.S. Census Bureau and, after a period of discernment, applied to the Diocese of Arlington and was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood for that Diocese. He is currently a seminarian at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. God willing, John will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in the spring of 2022.

We congratulate John and wish him all God’s blessings as he begins his diaconal ministry and his final year of preparation for the Priesthood. We look forward to John visiting us soon and assisting at the Sunday liturgy as deacon and preaching the homily, in this, his home parish. 

I remind you again that our 90th anniversary book is completed and is available at the rectory. It is a beautiful compilation of our parish and school history, our present parish life, and our 90th anniversary year. There are hundreds of pictures depicting not only our parish life and history but also important moments in many individuals’ and families’ lives, especially in the celebration of the sacraments. 

There are a limited number of books available. We are asking for a donation of $25 per book. Books may be purchased at the rectory. More information and an order form may be found elsewhere in this bulletin.

Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.