“I will ask the Father, and he will give you . . . the Spirit of truth.”
Throughout this Easter season the readings have drawn us into the experience of the early church. We have tasted the excitement and zeal of the first Christians. Now, with them, we listen to the words of Saint Peter, who reminds us that when people notice that we are people of hope, we should be ready to explain why. This challenges us. Do others even notice that we are people of hope? In a world often marked by cynicism and hopelessness, do we stand out as people who offer hope and reassurance to others? In today’s Gospel Jesus promises that when he leaves the earth he will not leave us orphaned. Today he promises to send his Advocate, the Spirit of truth who will be with us always. Let us acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit and ask the Spirit to make us people of hope.
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God has called parishioner, Jimmy Sack, to himself. Let us pray that he may experience the joy and peace of eternal life. We offer our deepest sympathy and assurance of prayer for his family and friends.
If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility, and charity.
St. Philip Neri
| Category | This Week | Year-to-Date |
|---|---|---|
| Envelopes | $6,305.00 | $102,662.94 |
| Offerings | $314.00 | $17,682.25 |
| Spanish | $491.00 | $22,736.05 |
| Total | $7,110.00 | $143,081.24 |
Week of May 3, 2026 — Week 44 • Bishop’s Annual Appeal: $299
May 10, 2026
May 17, 2026
First Reading — The people of Samaria accepted the word of God preached by Philip; they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5–8, 14–17).
Psalm — Let all the earth cry out to God with joy (Psalm 66).
Second Reading — Act with gentleness and reverence toward all, so that when you are maligned those who defame you will be the ones put to shame (1 Peter 3:15–18).
Gospel — I will not leave you orphans, but will come to you (John 14:15–21).
Edith Stein was born into a Jewish family in the German Empire of the late nineteenth century. She lost her faith in God as a young adult but remained committed to seeking truth. As she studied under the philosopher Edmund Husserl, she met other philosophers who were devout Christians. Two such friends were Adolf Reinach and his wife, Anna Reinach, at whose home she completed her dissertation. Adolf Reinach was killed in World War I, and Edith saw Anna’s grief at the loss of her husband. She also saw in Anna a steadfastness and peacefulness despite the terrible grief and realized that Anna was sustained in strength only by her relationship with Jesus. When Edith became a Roman Catholic, and later a Carmelite nun, she wrote about this, and said, “[T]hat was the moment my unbelief collapsed and Christ shone forth.”
I imagine conversations between Edith and Anna, and I can see Anna giving an “explanation” for her hope as Peter encourages us to do. But that hope can only be if we are in an enduring relationship with Jesus. In the Gospel, Jesus promises that he is with us always and that the Advocate—the Holy Spirit—will be with us always. These two promises are the foundation of our hope. When we are in love, we are sustained in the relationship by that love. Through that love, we find hope, and we can pass on that hope with gentle kindness to those around us.
Edith became Teresa Benedicta of the Cross when she took her vows as a Carmelite nun. She gave hope with gentle kindness to the prisoners at Auschwitz. She did not fear even as she was led to her death, for there is no fear in love.
Excerpted from Living the Word
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We, the members of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, recognize and respect our diverse and multicultural character. By the grace of God, we will nurture our spiritual community through prayer, service, and example to become one family in Christ.