Dear Brothers and Sisters in  Christ, 

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!  Never does this salutation gets old since it expresses the turning  point in world history that should  dominate all our hopes and  aspirations.

Today, Divine Mercy Sunday, completes the Octave of Easter, but reminds us that we are now in the Great  50 Days which will culminate on the Solemnity of  Pentecost. Of course prior to Pentecost we have the  Ascension of the Lord and the Novena to the Holy  Spirit. In these days of Eastertide we continue to  reflect on the wonders of our Lord’s Resurrection  and the budding life of the Church which was born  from the pierced Heart of Her Savior and Bride groom. The Church has always been imagined as the  Bride of Christ. He is the new Adam, the first born  of the new creation, and the Church symbolizes the  new Eve, created from His side. Just as God said  that in marriage the two become one flesh, so too  Christ and His bride, the Church, become one Mystical Body. Our Lord Jesus is the Head and we all are  members of the body by virtue of our Baptism. And  it is through the Sacramental Life of the Church that  the Body is ever nourished with life from her Savior  and Spouse.  

The Church, therefore, is meant to always be chaste  and pure, and Christ in His mercy has given the  remedy for that to be. As we contemplate the Easter  evening appearance in the Upper Room of the Risen  Lord and His Apostles, He immediately reconciles  them to Himself in the Shalom, Peace be with you,  and surprisingly enough He gives the power to those  who are weak themselves to forgive sins. There is no  end to the mercy of God and in a very special way  we celebrate this on Divine Mercy Sunday.  

Today at St. Mary Magdalen, beginning at 2;30 PM  we will have our Divine Mercy Service ( No Mass)  coupled with Padre Pio devotions (who better was  a dispenser of Mercy in our time than he). In the  Presence of the Blessed Sacrament we shall have  Divine Mercy prayers, Rosary, Chaplet, Eucharistic  Procession and Benediction. Come give thanks to  our Savior and Redeemer for the ever-flowing grace  of forgiveness from His Divine Heart. 

Again I would like to recognize and extend thanks to  all who made our Easter celebrations so beautiful and  memorable. Much effort has been put in behind the  scenes by parishioners who love their parish so much  and indeed thanks to all who were so generous in your Easter giving. May God reward you all abundantly.

With Blessings, 

Father Langan