Dear Parishioners of St Anthony: 
 

The gospel is brief this weekend but has the powerful image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We still find that image so soothing and comforting in our high-tech world. But the focus of the gospel is on us hearing the voice of the Shepherd. There are so many voices clamoring for our attention—music, news, movies, friends, and family to name just a few. These voices, while sometimes important, have the potential to prevent us from hearing the voice of Jesus speaking in our hearts. The voice of Christ can’t be heard in the cacophony of noise surrounding us, but only in the silence of our hearts. That is why, we need to spend time in daily prayer seeking the voice of Christ, spending that one-on-one time with him so that we can hear him speak to us and be sure that we are following him. 

Congratulations to all our young people and OCIA candidates who made their confirmation on Friday with Bishop Spies. The completion of their initiation into the Catholic Church. They spent many years preparing for this big moment and now filled with the Holy Spirit they are prepared and equipped to live as Jesus’ disciples in the world. Thanks again to Deacon Tony, and the entire RE staff as well as thanks to their catechists and volunteers who prepared these students for their big day. Thank you also to Deacon Joe, and all the liturgical ministers, servers, musicians and cantors who made Friday’s celebration such a joyful event. 

My only word to our newly Confirmed is to remind them that while their formal catechetical training may be completed, they are still expected to study and grow in their knowledge of the faith. There is still so much you can learn and discover. Your formation is not over, if anything, you have only just begun. 

I want to express my thanks to all the people of St Anthony for their overwhelming and generous response to Fr Greg Schafer’s missionary appeal. Over $14,000 was raised to support his missionary activity in Venezuela. You are truly an amazingly generous parish! Just know that your donations will go to caring for the sick and feeding the hungry in a real and most tangible way. Thank you for supporting Fr Greg’s efforts. 

The cardinals began their conclave this past Wednesday, May 7th. Please pray that they will be led by the Holy Spirit as they discern who the new Holy Father of our church will be. No one knows how long or short the conclave will be. Once the new Supreme Pontiff is announced, a special mass will be held at St Anthony asking God to bless his new pontificate.

God bless, 
 Father Dennis