St. Stephen Catholic Church

What a Lent we have had a St. Stephen’s. From walking the Way of the Cross, to spiritually adopting babies in the womb, to sharing meals together at the Fish Frys and helping our youth learn to live lives of integrity and now we celebrate Easter.

Even though Easter came later this year, we continue to celebrate resurrected life.

This year especially, our parish community feels very much alive. There are more people participating in community events and the sounds of children laughing and playing fill our Family Life Center and playgrounds. We see the joy of families coming together and that joy resonates throughout the parish.

Thankfully our ability to serve the poor in our neighborhood never stopped during the pandemic. However, we see renewed life and energy in our St. Vincent de Paul and Meals on Wheels members.

So, I get to say to you with joyful soul, “Happy Easter”! I’m not sure if it’s the Risen Lord in me, but my heart is filled with joy, to be able to continue to walk my discipleship with you here at St. Stephen.  We have an imperfect, but very beautiful community of faith.

I want you to know, “you are loved by Jesus”. You for whom he suffered and died and rose again, he loves you! May our 50 days of Easter be filled with this reality, “I am loved by Jesus”. And when we have accepted that truth about ourselves, may we accept his call to share that with all that we meet. We are loved and we are called to share that love with our world that is so lacking in love.

I don’t want to return to the 60’s and I’m not the greatest Beatles fan, but I do agree with the following; “all you need is love”.

Have a Happy Easter, have a blessed Easter, have an Easter filled with the beauty of faith and family.

Fr. Dermot