Zander Price was the fastest kid at my grade school. He won every race on Field Day. To me, his swiftness meant he was the greatest. Zander was the best.
It’s the same with the speediest Apostle on Easter morning. John tells us he “ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.” (John 20:4) But only after Peter entered did John go in, see the burial cloths, and believe. Here is a symbol of two dimensions of the Church. John, the beloved disciple, represents the contemplative, mystical life: affection, prayer, intimacy. Peter, the rock, represents the Church’s institutional life: steady, authoritative, structured…but slower.
Of course, John runs faster! Love is the heartbeat of Christian faith, so love will always arrive first. Peter’s role is, in a sense, secondary. He arrives later, but is still very much needed. John waits for him. The Church must be built, balanced, protected, and led. Love without structure can vanish; structure without love becomes lifeless.
This dynamic is not just historical — it is personal. In you, there is a John who longs to run to the tomb in love. Let him run! Pray, sing, love Jesus. There is also a Peter, who eventually gets to the tomb and takes charge. The Risen Christ wants both. Remember: if you want to get to the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection fast…love him, for love is best.
— Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to St. Joseph,
As we begin our liturgy, we would like to extend a special welcome to everyone visiting our parish for the first time. We also warmly welcome all of you who are here today. We are so grateful and blessed to have you with us. As we settle in and prepare our hearts for Mass, please take a moment to make sure your cell phones are turned off so as not to disturb our prayer.
(Wait a few seconds to allow people to turn off their phones)
Let us now take a moment to prepare for Mass and open our hearts and minds to the message we will hear today. The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and for…
Please stand and greet those beside you.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, gathered in joy on this day of the Resurrection, that we may courageously give witness to the new life Christ won for us, let us pray to the Lord.
B. That the peace of the risen Lord may remain in us and fully permeate the world so that no one will ever again take up arms against another person, let us pray to the Lord.
C. That God may grant those affected by abuse in any way the courage to tell their story and seek healing and that they may encounter the presence of Christ: we pray to the Lord.
D. For the success of Alpha in our parish, and for all who will attend, serve, and invite others that God may bless this time of evangelization and community.
E. For all those who received the sacraments of initiation yesterday evening at the Easter Vigil, especially for those in our community, that they may be new yeast for the Church, building it up in sincerity and truth.
F. For those who are alone this Easter Sunday, that they may be consoled by the eternal spiritual bond they have with those they love who have passed away, let us pray to the Lord.
G. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
Our Parish parking lots will be closed from Monday through Friday next week due to the asphalt renovation. We'll continue to have daily Mass, but parking will be limited to the street and the Parish Center. We thank you for your patience.
We are hiring a part time bilingual receptionist. A job description can be picked up at the office or viewed on our Parish website.
We ask our parish family to please keep Alpha in your prayers. Pray for all who attend, for those inviting others, and for our team. May the Holy Spirit move powerfully in our parish community.
