April 23-24

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are now in the Great 50 Days of Eastertide and today has been specifically designated as Divine Mercy Sunday by the late Pope St. John Paul II.  From now until Pentecost, we ponder the glory of our Lord’s Resurrection from the dead and the profound effect it has had and still has on all of humanity.  Though many still do not accept the Truth, that Jesus conquered sin and death nonetheless we joyfully proclaim and live this reality.  We have to ask ourselves.” Does my life give witness to the greatest event that has taken place in the history of the world?”

As we consider the lives of those who originally encountered the Risen Christ, we can certainly put ourselves in their shoes (sorry sandals).  On Easter Sunday morning, the Gospel did not say anything about Peter or John or Mary Magdalen seeing the Lord.  Their experience was first the Empty Tomb.  That surely left an emptiness in their lives.  They didn’t know what to make of it.  Only as the day went on and Our Lord revealed Himself to them were they able to grasp the mystery and ultimately the purpose of our Lord’s coming into our midst as one of us.

Our lives are the same.  We approach life with an emptiness at times looking for something or someone to fill the void.  Often we think, mistakenly, that the void can be filled with the things of this world.  How quickly we discover that is a futile pursuit.  Only Christ Risen can fill and satisfy with the joy and happiness that knows no end.  The Apostles and disciples came to realize that and so should we.  The words of our Savior to Mary Magdalen and the other women and to the Apostles carry a weight that needs our meditation: ” Be not afraid.”

If we are not afraid then we must be bold in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to all we meet.  After all it is not human beings that will judge us at the end of our lives, but Christ Himself and how shall we respond when He asks us:” How have you made Me known to the world?”

We believe that He indeed is risen.  Let the world know it.

Blessings of Easter joy,

Father Langan

April 17, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

This acclamation has made all the difference in the course of human history.  Even though many today do not believe in the Lord’s rising from the dead, this act of God is the turning point for every person, past, present, and future, on the face of the earth.  As believers we know that this life is merely a preparation for wondrous things to come and it is our hope and prayer that we always give evidence of this truth in the manner in which we live.  Our belief in the Lord’s Resurrection gives testimony that we too shall abide with God forever.  First, however, we must pass through the trials and difficulties that come our way.  We have heeded and accepted Our Lord’s invitation to: “take up our cross and follow Him.”  And because we have the glorious crown of eternal life awaits us.

Because of our belief we need to be ever joyful in the anticipation of what awaits us.  Those who get bogged down in the disappointments and sorrows of this life easily lose sight of the life to come.  Restless hearts go after things in this world that will never give permanent happiness.  In their errant pursuits they fall into many perils and misery.  If only they would find joy in the promises that Jesus Christ has brought.  His Resurrection is proof that joy may be embraced here and now.

Let us therefore proclaim with exhilaration that Jesus Christ is risen indeed, and that sin and death no longer have power over us.

A Blessed Easter,

Father Langan

April 9-10

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Hosanna to the Son of David: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

Today commemorates our Divine Savior’s entrance into the Holy City of Jerusalem and the inauguration of our Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation.  These days of Holy Week are an intense re-presentation of Christ’s saving work.  By prayer and ritual, we are invited to participate intimately in the work of our redemption.

Palm/Passion Sunday, Mother Church places branches in our hands, blessed palms, that we might honor Our Lord and King as we pledge loyalty and fidelity to Him.  We are very much aware of our fellow Christians throughout the world, most especially Ukraine, who suffer and are persecuted for their Faith.  We stand in solidarity with them and offer our fraternal love and support as we pray for peace.

On Holy Tuesday, Bishop Bambera summons his priests to join in the Mass of Holy Chrism as the three Sacred Oils are consecrated:  Oil of Catechumens for the catechumens who will be Baptized;  Oil of the Infirm for the sick; and the Oil of Chrism for Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.  The Mass will be at 4:00 PM in St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Faithful are encouraged to participate.  Also at this Mass, the priests renew their priestly vows and call upon their parishioners to assist them with their prayers.

The Passion of Our Lord dominates the Sacred Triduum (Three Days).  We begin with Morning Prayer (Lauds) on Holy Thursday Morning beginning at 7:25 AM in St Mary Magdalen.  Holy Thursday evening at 7:00 PM in St John’s we commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper wherein He institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (the First Mass); the Holy Priesthood; and the giving of the Mandatum– the new Commandment: “love one another as I have loved you.”

Following the Mass there will be a procession to the repository in St Mary Magdalen with the Holy Eucharist for Adoration until 11:00 PM.

Good Friday begins with Morning Prayer at 7:25 PM (SMM).  The Way of the Cross (Stations) at 9:00 AM (SMM) followed by the blessing of the relic of the True Cross on which Our Savior died.

The main celebration of the Passion is at Noon in St. John’s.  We go in heart and mind to Calvary where we have been cleansed in the Blood of the Lamb.

At 3:00 PM we begin the Novena  and Chaplet of Divine Mercy which culminates on the Octave of Easter,  Divine Mercy Sunday.

 Good Friday evening at 7:00 PM in St John’s, we chant in Hebrew, Latin and English the most ancient and hauntingly beautiful dirges of the burial of Christ in the Office of Tenebrae.

On Holy Saturday, Morning Prayer will be offered at 7:25 AM (SMM).  Blessing of Easter Baskets will take place at 10:00 AM in the courtyard of ST Mary Magdalen.  You may set your baskets on the porch.  Confessions will follow.

We prayerfully prepare for the Great and Glorious Vigil of Easter at 8:00 PM in St. John’s.  During this Night-of-Nights, we recall the history of our salvation and renew all things in Christ Who has conquered sin and death.  This year we will welcome two new members into the Mystical Body of Christ, Christine and Leeann.  May they always find joy and peace in our family of faith.

Because there is no 4:00 PM Mass at St. Bernard’s there will be an Easter Sunday morning Mass there at 8:30 AM.  The following schedule is:  7:30 AM @ St. Mary Magdalen; 8:30 AM @ St. Bernard;  9:00 AM @ St. Joseph; and 10:30 AM @ St. John.

These are the days most important in the spiritual lives of each and every one of us in the Family of Faith.  May we avail ourselves to the abundant graces our Blessed Lord wishes to bestow on us.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Holy Thursday

7:25 am † Morning Prayer † St. Mary Magdalen

7:00 pm † Mass of the Lord’s Supper † St. John the Evangelist

11:00 pm † Night Prayer † St. Mary Magdalen

Good Friday

7:25 am † Morning Prayer † St. Mary Magdalen

9:00 am † Stations of the Cross † St. Mary Magdalen

and Blessing with the Relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ

12:00 pm † Celebration of the Lord’s Passion † St. John the Evangelist

3:00 pm † Divine Mercy Novena † St. John the Evangelist
5:30 pm † Stations of the Cross † St. Joseph’s, Rileyville

6:00 pm † Stations of the Cross † Beach Lake

7:00 pm † Tenebrae † St. John the Evangelist

Holy Saturday

7:25 am † Morning Prayer † St. Mary Magdalen

10:00 am † Blessing of the food baskets † St. Mary Magdalen Courtyard

8:00 pm † Easter Vigil Mass † St. John the Evangelist

*Please note: NO OTHER Saturday evening Mass*

Easter Sunday

7:30 am † St. Mary Magdalen
8:30 am † St. Bernard, Beach Lake

9:00 am † St. Joseph, Rileyville

10:30 am † St. John the Evangelist

Confessions during Holy Week

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week

Before and immediately after daily Masses at St. Mary Magdalen

April 11, Monday 6:00 pm Penance Service † St. Mary Magdalen

April 14, 10:30 am to noon † Holy Thursday † St. Mary Magdalen

Following 9:00 am Stations and Blessing of the Relic of the True Cross 

Good Friday † St. Mary Magdalen

Following the Passion Service † Good Friday † St. John the Evangelist

Following the Blessing of food baskets † Holy Saturday † St. Mary Magdalen

(10:30 am to Noon)

Class will be held today. Please drive with care. If you feel that your roadways are not safe, please don’t travel and contact your children’s teacher for makeup work. 4th Grade Class mass will be held at St. John.

April 2-3

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, 

Today there is a subtle but significant shift in our Lenten journey.  Presently, we have been responding to Our Lord’s call, “to repent and believe the Good News”. We have taken seriously the need for repentance and making a change in our lives if they have not been in conformity with the Gospel. Now, we focus on the very act of God in the Passion of Jesus Christ, which has made that repentance and renewal of life possible. In this season of Passiontide, ever more intently, we consider the price of our salvation. The words of the prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading echo the voice of God: “…see I am doing something new!”…  The “new” is the re-creation of humanity through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Though mankind did not comprehend the mystery of this New Creation, and many still do not today; this merciful act of God has expiated our sins and restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

Every act and deed of our Lord was a preparation and focus on what He would do on Calvary. Think of the adulterous women in today’s Gospel. Why was there no punishment for her on the part of Jesus? That is because He would take the punishment upon Himself.  Whereas the women, and we ourselves, should pay the price for our sins, He took our place. There on the cross began “something new;” there began the new creation.  

Mindful of what our Savior has done for us we must make every effort to recall these days by our participation in all of the forthcoming celebrations of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum (three days). You will find enclosed in today’s bulletin a schedule of all that will be offered. Please keep it in a prominent place in your home as you make your preparations for participating in these most important days of our salvation. 

With Blessings, 

Father Langan

March 26-27

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On this Laetare Sunday we rejoice in having passed our halfway mark of Lent and set our hearts and minds on the joy of celebrating soon the glorious days of the Sacred Triduum. Before Easter is upon us we need to make plans now for a worthy celebration of the Paschal Mysteries.  WHen my brothers and sister were children my dear mother made a “game” out of our annual spring cleaning.  Just about every nook and corner of the house was exposed and like an army of ants we attacked those places where the dust bunnies found a home.  They were dealt a mortal blow.  And a victorious mom would remind us how fresh and clean everything smelled.  Of course one of the main objectives of the spring cleaning was our getting to Confession.  Though always a regular practice it carried a special weight around the latter days of Lent in preparation of Easter.  Just as we banged-out the dust from the carpets as they hung on the clothesline( are there such any more?) with the wire carpet banger ( what a way to get out your frustrations) so we should bang out our sins in the confessional and get a fresh new start in our lives.

     St. Paul stresses the newness of life in Christ through the ministry of reconciliation which is exactly what Confession is. How perfectly this is portrayed in today’s parable of the Prodigal Son.  We are all prodigals and all in need of the Father’s mercy and forgiveness which comes to us through the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.  The prodigal was transformed by the father’s love.  He felt once again at home, loved and restored. Experience the same as you make a heartfelt confession in the days ahead.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

There will be an altar server training tomorrow (3/19) for all current prospective altar servers in St. Mary Magdalen Church at 2:00 P.M.

March 19-20

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the Gospel today Our Lord addresses the very question most of us ask: “why do the innocent suffer?”  Our daily, if not hourly, following of the tragic and immoral conflict in Ukraine magnifies this consternation all the more.   Those posing the question to Our Lord suspected that those who lost their lives were wicked and thus deserved punishment.  Our Lord corrects their erroneous thinking but at the same time warns them not to sink into a sinful life.  So often we want answers from God to the questions that perplex us and when we do not receive the anticipated outcome we rebel or reject what has been revealed.  We are dealing with the mystery of suffering, the consequence of what has afflicted humanity since the fall of our first parents. That is the reality we have to face.

            The antidote to this is faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Until the end of time we will be faced with the evil man perpetrates against man.  It does not mean that we just throw up our hands in despair but instead embrace the power of prayer and forgiveness as Jesus taught us.  Easy?  No!  But with the Lord all things are possible.  And so we start with ourselves, coming before Him who is kind and merciful.  When we get our own house in order through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are better equipped to deal with the uncertainties and miseries of life.   Being reconciled with God and neighbor we are more able to sympathize with those who suffer needlessly and become empathetic with them.   May our prayer and sacrifice with and for the Ukrainian people and for the conversion of those inflicting such violence bring an end to the hostilities and eventual peace.  May the souls lost in the violence of war now behold the face of God.

God Bless,

Father Langan