Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     It is Laetare Sunday, our half-way point in Lent.  It comes from the Latin word for rejoicing, not because our Lenten sacrifices are almost over but because we are approaching the great and glorious days of the Resurrection, in English and German speaking countries, Easter: in  Romance languages Pasch.  Whatever term we choose to employ it is the greatest celebration of our Christian  Faith because as St. Paul says: “if Christ had not risen from the dead, we are the greatest of fools.”

     Fools , we are not but rather people of Faith who are continually seeking God, desiring to know Him better and striving  each day to follow Him more fervently.  Such is the path to which we aspire.  Like the people of Israel who longed to enter the Promised Land,  we long to enter the Eternal Land of Promise, namely Heaven.  And so we continue to journey, sometimes making great strides, other times falling behind and perhaps falling but hopefully being picked up by the Lord in Confession and starting the journey anew, just like the account of the prodigal son in today’s Gospel.

    On behalf of all our parishioners and in my own name I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to the 7 young parishioners in the 12th and 8th grades who received the Bishop’s Youth awards this past Sunday at our Cathedral in Scranton.  These faithful young Christians have exemplified all that is good in today’s teens and certainly give witness to Christ in a world that often puts Him to the side.  We are very proud of you.  Keep up the good work.

With Blessings,

Father Langan