Dear Friends,
With all Christian believers throughout the world, we joyfully proclaim to one another and to everyone on this feast of Easter, “The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!”
The empty tomb to which we are witnesses on this Easter Sunday is a reminder to us that Christ conquered death, and that all of us who are baptized into his death and resurrection will certainly be given a share in the new life that he was the first to claim. His resurrection, simply put, is the guarantee that we will live for ever, and that none of the darknesses and sufferings of this world --- not even death itself --- will have the last word. Alleluia is truly our song!
I offer my deep thanks to all those who made our celebration of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum here at Saint Timothy the beautiful and uplifting experience it was for all of us. Special thanks to Father Buck, Father Noone, and Father Jack, as well as all of our liturgical ministers, including our readers, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, ushers and greeters, music ministers, choirs, sacristans, those who cleaned and decorated the church, as well as anyone else who had anything to do with our celebrations during this past week. I would like to single out Anne Coneghen for her dedication and service to the parish as our director of music and organist, who works especially hard during these days of Holy Week and Easter. Anne’s hard work certainly paid off, as our choirs and music ministers outdid themselves, as you can hear! (It is such a pleasure to have our choirs back in service, as they have been in “hibernation” for a full year since the pandemic began.) I also wholeheartedly thank Nick Monica, Francesco Cifoni, Joe Monica, and Brian Giessel, for all they did to ensure that our liturgies were carried out to perfection in every way. I gratefully acknowledge Francesco Cifoni, Marco Cifoni, Cheryl Kirschman, Joe Monica, and Nick Monica, for their hard work in helping to decorate the church. I hope all of you know that a very grateful pastor thanks God each day for your commitment and service. I also extend my deepest gratitude to Tom Sullivan and Annmarie Haag for all they do, so often behind the scenes, not only during this time of Holy Week and Easter, but throughout the year.
I thank all of you, our dedicated and faithful parishioners, for being with us on this Easter Sunday and throughout the Sacred Triduum, and for all you do for this great parish throughout the year. In the end, it is your fidelity to and love for Saint Timothy’s that really makes us great. I am grateful.
To all of our visitors who are here to celebrate with us on this Easter day, please know that, whoever you are, you are most welcomed, not just on this great feast of the Resurrection, but always. Our home is your home!
Happy Easter! Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.
Love and prayers,
Father Olivere