Dear Holy Trinity Family,

Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter also known as Good Shepherd Sunday and World Day of

Prayer for Vocations. In our Gospel today, we hear of the image of Jesus – The Good Shepherd. Two powerful

images come out of today’s Gospel – The Good Shepherd who both knows his sheep and is willing to lay down life

for them. This is the image of Jesus for us. He knows us - our strengths, our weaknesses, our hopes, and our

sinfulness. He knows everything that we need and desire and never leaves our side. Even in our darkest moments,

Jesus still looks at us with a loving gaze. And even when we turn our back on him, he stays there patiently waiting to

embrace us when we are ready.

All that we encountered during Holy Week reminded us of what Jesus was willing to do for us - how he laid down

his life for us. The Good Shepherd fends off the wolves who attack us and is willing to sacrifice his own life for his

flock. The image of the Cross reminds us of the great selfless love of Jesus who knew exactly what he had to do in

order for our sins to be forgiven and to promise us eternal life.

On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, I invite us all to pray in thanksgiving all those who have played a pivotal

role in leading us to holiness. We pray especially for husbands and wives for leading their spouse to holiness;

bishops, priests and deacons for their witness and providing us with the Sacraments; for consecrated men and woman

(religious) who always remind us of heaven by their way of life and we pray for all the faithful that we may always

put Christ first and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. One of the great things that Jesus did was "call people by

name" and invite them to follow him. As we build up a culture of vocations, I invite you to pray about who you think

has the potential to be a holy and loving priest or religious sister, someone who shares the love of Christ and can lead

others to holiness. As a name/person comes to mind, pray for that person and invite them to consider the priesthood

or consecrated life.

On May 1st, the new administrator/pastor of our parish will be announced. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, please

join me in prayer as we ask the Lord to bless our future administrator/pastor. I invite us all to pray one Hail Mary

over the next nine days in thanksgiving for the priests who have served us and to bless our future shepherd.

Mary, Virgin most faithful... pray for us.

- Fr. Mike