Vacation Bible School June 1st - 5th
Father's weekly message
May 10, 2026, The Sixth Fifth Sunday of Easter — Reflection on the Lord’s Prayer:
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us.” (1)
The fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer consists of two parts. In the first part, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses,” and in the second, “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Let us first consider the significance of this petition. One might wonder why Jesus included this petition in the Lord’s Prayer. Some believers ask: "Were our sins not washed away when we professed our faith and were baptized in the name of the Most Holy Trinity? Did Jesus not justify us ‘once-for-all,’ forgiving our past, present, and future sins through His death on the cross? Is there truly a need to confess our sins repeatedly?" To address these questions, we must understand the purpose of this petition and clarify the nature of sin. Let us examine the first part of this petition and consider four points why prayer for forgiveness is essential.
First, St. John Chrysostom says, “This petition for forgiveness belongs specifically to believers. Because the uninitiated (the unbaptized) cannot truly call God "Father." We discover forgiveness within the nurturing pedagogy of the Church. If this prayer is intended for believers, it is clear that the "profit of repentance" remains necessary even after baptism. If Jesus had not intended for us to seek ongoing mercy, He would not have instructed us to pray for it.”
Second, St. Cyprian reminds us that this petition serves as a daily reminder of our fallen nature. We pray for forgiveness daily because we sin daily. This echoes the words of St. John the Apostle: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:8-9).
Third: To understand the purpose of this petition, we must distinguish between justification and sanctification. By Justification, Christ saved all of humanity and creation once-for-all through His death and resurrection. Those who deny the need for daily forgiveness often cite Colossians 2:13-14, which states that “when we were dead in our sins, God forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands." Though we are already justified, we still need sanctification. Because we still commit sins in our daily lives. Just as we require "daily bread" for physical sustenance, we require "daily forgiveness" for our sanctification, purification, and the cleansing of our hearts and souls. Jesus, knowing our hearts are easily polluted by worldly acts, taught us to seek daily mercy just as we seek daily bread.
Finally, this petition reminds us of God’s abounding mercy and His infinite desire to forgive us. He calls us to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." To reach this state of holiness, we need ongoing sanctification. Although we are justified by divine grace, we must participate in our daily sanctification through the intentional effort of loving God and our neighbor. This petition helps us to trust in the divine mercy and goodness, and to return to the Father’s house like the prodigal son and the repentant thief. —Fr. Jesu.
Announcements for May 10, 2026
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, grandmothers and aunts!
Mother’s Day Mass envelopes are available in the narthex. Kindly make use of them to request masses for your mothers, living or deceased.
¡Feliz Día de las Madres a todas las madres, abuelas y tías!
Los sobres para la Misa del Día de las Madres están disponibles en el nártex. Por favor, utilícelos para solicitar misas por sus madres, vivas o fallecidas.
We will have a Parish Workday on Saturday, May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Please come and help to clean and organize all of our church facilities.
Tendremos una Jornada de Trabajo Parroquial el sábado 16 de mayo de 8:30 a.m. a 12 del mediodía. Por favor vengan y ayuden a limpiar y organizar todas nuestras instalaciones de la iglesia.
On Sunday, May 17th we will be celebrating Father Jesu’s anniversary of ordination (33 years) after the 9:00 a.m. Mass with cake and punch. Please join us for this very special occasion.
El domingo 17 de mayo celebraremos el aniversario de ordenación del Padre Jesu (33 años) después de la Misa de las 9:00 a.m. con pastel y ponche. Por favor acompáñenos en esta ocasión tan especial.
Also on Sunday, May 17th, help us to give Deacon Jon the best sendoff a parish can give! Join usafter the Spanish Mass at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall for lunch, laughter, stories and more! Deacon Jon will be leaving the end of May so don’t miss this opportunity to say thank you for all he’s done!
También el domingo 17 de mayo, ¡ayúdanos a darle al Diácono Jon la mejor despedida que una parroquia puede dar! Únete a nosotros después de la Misa en español a la 1:00 p.m. en el Salón Parroquial para disfrutar de un almuerzo, risas, historias y más. El Diácono Jon se irá a finales de mayo, así que no pierdas la oportunidad de darle las gracias por todo lo que ha hecho.
Kindly mark your calendar for our Annual Parish Dinner on Friday, June 12th beginning at 6:00 p.m. Join us for an elegant catered meal, fabulous door prizes and an update on the State of the Parish and Rejoice in Hope Campaign. You must RSVP by May 22nd to attend this fun-filled, entertaining event.
Por favor marque su calendario para nuestra Cena Anual Parroquial el viernes 12 de junio comenzando a las 6:00 p.m. Únase a nosotros para una elegante comida servida, fabulosos premios de puerta y una actualización sobre el Estado de la Parroquia y la Campaña Rejoice in Hope. Debe confirmar su asistencia antes del 22 de mayo para poder participar en este evento lleno de diversión y entretenimiento.
Hey kids! Get ready for an exciting week of fun, friends, and faith at Vacation Bible School June 1st– 5th! Join us for music, engaging Bible stories, creative crafts, fun games and activities all while learning how to become a saint! All kids must be registered by May 24th. Contact Jade Hopson to volunteer. Please see the flyer in the Narthex or the Bulletin for more information.
¡Hola niños! ¡Prepárense para una semana emocionante de diversión, amigos y fe en la Escuela Bíblica de Vacaciones del 1 al 5 de junio! Únanse a nosotros para disfrutar de música, historias bíblicas interesantes, manualidades creativas, juegos y actividades divertidas, ¡todo mientras aprenden cómo convertirse en santos! Todos los niños deben estar registrados antes del 24 de mayo. Contacta a Jade Hopson para ser voluntario. Por favor, consulta el volante en el Nártex o el Boletín para más información.
There is a second collection next Sunday for the Building Maintenance Fund.
Habrá una segunda colecta el próximo domingo para el Fondo de Mantenimiento del Edificio.
Please prayerfully consider giving to this year’s Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries. Pledge cards are in the Narthex. Please turn your pledge cards into the church office. Do not mail them directly to the Diocese.
Por favor, considere en oración hacer una donación a la Campaña Anual del Obispo para los Ministerios de este año. Las tarjetas de compromiso están en el Nártex. Por favor entregue sus tarjetas de compromiso en la oficina de la iglesia. No las envíe directamente a la Diócesis.