Pastor's Weekly Message

fifth sunday of lent, 22 March 2026

My Beloved Fellow Saints-in-the-Making,

Greetings in Jesus Christ!

The Gospel of this Fifth Sunday of Lent reminds us of Jesus’ power over more than merely disease and demons; with the raising of Lazarus from the tomb, Jesus demonstrates His power over death itself and gives us the foreshadowing of His own Resurrection from the dead. Indeed, because the raising of Lazarus anticipates Jesus’ own glorious rising from the dead and that He, the Light Who has come into the world, cannot be overcome by the darkness (see John 1:5), the word “foreshadowing” should in this singular case be “fore-enlightening.” What we see Jesus do in today’s Gospel, the resuscitation of Lazarus, who will eventually die again, we trust in faith will happen in an even more transformative way for each of us when Jesus returns: the glorification of our body as our body and soul are reunited in Heaven, where we will never encounter death again. May God be praised!

Our Catechumens and Candidates experience the Third (and final) Scrutiny this Fifth Sunday of Lent. Our five adult and youth Catechumens, who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil, will have a spiritual experience akin to Lazarus’s experience in the Gospel, for they shall die, spiritually, in the saving waters of Baptism and rise with Jesus Christ the Resurrection and the Life to new life in the Spirit. And Catechumens and Candidates will be animated with new life by the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation. Indeed, it shall be an even more joyful and glorious event than the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Please continue to keep our Catechumens and Candidates in your prayers and join us for the Easter Vigil to witness the miracle of their new life in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Next weekend is Palm Sunday, formally known as the Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, which begins the most holy of all weeks in the liturgical year. Throughout these last weeks of Lent, let us redouble our Lenten disciplines and prepare ourselves, body and soul, to remain by Jesus’ side during His Passion-Death-and Resurrection.

God love you! I do.

Fr. Lewis