From the Pastor April 26/27

Pope Francis’ Death Brings Deep Sadness

The world was deeply saddened to hear of Pope Francis’ death early Monday morning. A frail Pope Francis had offered his annual Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing to the city of Rome and to the world and rode around St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile blessing the assembled crowd. 

Pope Francis was a pope of many firsts. He was the first pope from the western and southern hemispheres, and the first Jesuit pope. I remember his admonition to priest to smell of their sheep. The pope was one with a special desire to reach out to Catholics on the peripheries of the Church. He made a point of visiting places in the world were there were few Catholics and appointed many Cardinals from those places. Pope Francis has forever changed the Church. May he rest in peace.

A Jesuit Prayer for Pope Francis

Loving God, today, we grieve for our beloved
Pope Francis. We know you join us in our
grief, that you too weep at the death of your
dear friend and companion as Jesus did at the
tomb of Lazarus.

Welcome our beloved Pope Francis into your
waiting arms. Envelop him in your eternal
love. And comfort us in our mourning as we
strive to continue to follow his Gospel
example to encounter Christ in all people and
in all places.

We thank you for the gift of Pope Francis.
Through his life and teaching, you showed us
how to love and serve one another, how to
hear the cries of the poor and the cries of the
earth and respond in compassionate love.

Pope Francis, pray for us. Mary, Mother of
Sorrows, comfort us. Amen.

Parishioners are requested to offer private prayers, works of mercy and almsgiving for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis and for the election process for a new Supreme Pontiff. The simple custom of frequently praying the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for this intention is encouraged. The election of the new Pope should be prayed for in the recitation of the Rosary. May all the Church be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide us as a new era begins in the Catholic Church. 

Easter Thanks Yous

Easter and Holy Week celebrations were absolutely beautiful here at Holy Redeemer. We owe appreciation to Music Director Teresa Lim and the choir who worked so hard to make them so memorable. Thank you to Deacon Art LaChance and the servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, hosts, parking lot attendant, and everyone in the congregation who helped in any way.

Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis Suspended

The Vatican announced that today’s planned canonization ceremony for Blessed Carlo Acutis has been suspended because of the death of Pope Francis. The special Holy Year event for youth will be conducted with some aspects of that celebration on Sunday, April 27, 2025, cancelled. 

When the canonized Blessed Carlo will be the first Millennial saint. Carlo was a young Italian teenager with a special devotion to Eucharistic Miracles. At age fifteen, Carlo died on October 12, 2006, only eleven days after the onset of an extremely aggressive form of leukemia. On his deathbed, Carlo predicted to his mother that he would become a saint. His canonization, a process that can take centuries, will occur less than twenty years after his death, 

A movie, Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality, will open in theaters from April 27-29. It will be shown here on Cape Cod at the Regal Cinemas at Mashpee Commons. The screen time is 4 pm on April 27 and 7 pm on April 28 & 29. If five thousand tickets are sold, they will be screened for an additional three days.

Catholic Appeal Begins

Parishioners should soon receive a mailing to begin the 2025 Catholic Appeal for the Diocese of Fall River. Once each spring our Diocese of Fall River asks the faithful to contribute to the spiritual and charitable work if the diocese. Proceeds from the Appeal financially support services for the homeless like St. Joseph’s House in Hyannis, St. Clare’s House, a transitional home for former female inmates in Centerville, parish based mental health advocacy and other social services. We all know how government support for the needy is being slashed. While the Church can’t make up for the loss of Federal government money, we need to do what we can to elevate the suffering of our most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. When you receive your Catholic Appeal letter please pray over your donation and make it as generous as possible.

Filling Your Lenten Folders

Parishioners have been filling their Lenten Folder as a Lenten almsgiving activity. They put aside 25c each day for a total of $10 throughout Lent. You can return your folders at any time. Collection boxes are by the Welcome Desks at the church doors. Please convert the quarters into currency or a check. We will donate the proceeds from the folders to the Cape Cod Foster Closet. The Closet is a charity that provides clothing and other essentials to foster parents welcoming a child from state custody into their home. Providing a home for a foster child is a very generous gesture from these people, and we need to support them. 

Earth Week Spring Clean-Up

Thank you to parishioners who joined other town groups for the Chatham Conservation Foundation’s Earth Week Clean-up on Saturday, April 26, Last year, Holy Redeemer recruited the most people of any town group for this effort. Hopefully, we were tops again this year. 

Lower/Outer Cape Young Adult Group Forming

A Young Catholic Adult Group for those aged 19-35 is being formed in the Lower/Outer Cape Area to socialize, play, and pray together. If you are interested in joining, please contact Colin Murphy at YACapeCod@gmail.com