SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER | APRIL 19, 2O2O

Dear Sisters and Brothers, A few years ago Pope Francis told the world, “We stand

today before the empty tomb of Jesus, and meditate with wonder and gratitude on the great mystery of the

Resurrection of the Lord. Life has conquered death. Mercy and love have conquered sin! There is need of faith and hope to open this new and wonderful horizon!” As Resurrection people, we recommit our faith and hope to Jesus Christ. On the day of our baptism, each one of us was claimed for Christ and made into a new creation. Our feet were set upon the path to walk in the light of Christ. As we have received this gift of faith and hope we are called to share this great mystery with all our sisters and brothers. In this challenging time, prayer for others is the greatest gift we can give. May we always remember these gifts in all we say and do. On behalf of our parish staff, may you and your family have a blessed Easter!

In the Peace of the Risen Christ,

Fr James Ebert

JUST A REMINDER… in compliance with directives issued by Governor Cuomo and Bishop Scharfenberger, all regularly scheduled public Masses in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, including weddings, baptisms, and funerals, are canceled until further notice. All Mater Christi parish events are also canceled until further notice. The parish office is closed and staff are working from home. We are still going through phone numbers and calling everyone in the parish! Please feel free to contact us at (518) 489-3204 or materchristialbany@gmail.com.

FIRST COMMUNION FAMILIES… First Holy Communion will NOT be celebrated on May 2nd & 3rd, 2020. Mrs. McSparron will contact you once she and Fr. Ebert have determined new dates. If you have questions, please email bernmc@nycap.rr.com. Thank you.

Parish of Mater Christi 40 Hopewell Street, Albany, NY 12208

Phone: (518) 489-3204 | Email: materchristialbany@gmail.com

WEEKLY BULLETIN

Fr. Ebert’s Easter Homily

A s we entered into this Holy Week, I couldn’t help but realize the similarities and parallels of yesteryear and today - the year 33 AD and the year 2020:

After Jesus’ death, the Apostles locked themselves away in the upper room distancing themselves from the community out of fear.  Today, we have locked ourselves away from community out of fear The women and Apostles were confused and questioning what had happened; what was going on?  We, too, are in a state of confusion and disbelief. Isn’t it amazing that the Christian movement began 2,000 years ago in the homes of followers of the Way? And 2,000 years later, we are back in the home worshipping as family — community over technology. After three years of following Jesus of Nazareth; professing Him to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and hearing that this Christ must suffer, die, and be raised, the followers still did not realize what they had in front of them.  Two-thousand years later we still do not realize what we have in front of us, taking for granted all that this is. This past Good Friday, our Altar Server for Stations of the Cross, Gabe — Gabe is my “old reliable” as my parish pastor used to call me, always there to help — asked if he could serve Stations. He does every year, but was uncertain if he could because of the virus.  He told his mother after his experience this year, “You don’t realize how much you miss it until you go back and you see the empty church and the pews taped off and no one following us for stations.  It’s a simple thing I do by carrying the crucifix for Fr. Ebert, but I did not realize how important it was until I could not do it.”  In typical Gabe fashion, he also asked if we could have a cast party after?  I know Gabe’s watching - we will when this is over Gabe! Does this all seem negative?  Does it all seem dark and death like? Yes, absolutely, but there is one word that ties all this together: LOVE.

The part that love plays in this story is extraordinary — both then and now!  

It was Mary Magdalene, who loved Jesus so much, who was the first at the tomb in those early hours.

It was John, the disciple whom Jesus loved and who loved Jesus, who was the first to believe in the Resurrection (excluding the Blessed Mother). John was the first man to understand and to believe. Love gave him the eyes to read the signs and a mind to understand.

And, one by one, all of Jesus’ followers began to see; they all begin to understand. The fear, the confusion, the disbelief, the separation begins to melt away because of LOVE; their burning Love for Jesus the Christ.

It is love that brought the Apostles from death to new life; from darkness to light. It is love that gave them the strength of Faith and to go out into the world and preach Jesus Christ Crucified, Died, and Risen. And it is this Love that has been given to you and I.

Our Easter this year is like no other Easter before. Our Easter this year is a gift — an invitation to greater faith. I have received so many emails, letters, and phone calls thanking the parish for recording Mass; hundreds, even thousands of people watching from home. The amount of donations coming into the food pantry is awesome! To see people come into the church to pray at all hours is incredible. What is happening to us is what happened to them. But, the truth is we have taken it all for granted. We don’t realize what we have, until it’s gone! Like St. John the Beloved, may our yearning, burning love for Christ give us the eyes to read the signs and a mind to understand. May our burning love for Jesus help us to let go of the fear, the confusion, the disbelief, the separation, and allow the Risen Christ to strengthen us to greater Faith.

STAY CONNECTED Please follow us on the following social media platforms to stay connected and receive updated information about what’s happening at the parish:

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Email Correspondence: If you have not been receiving electronic messages from us, we strongly encourage you to please share a household email address with our office to allow for more timely and cost effective communication of parish news and information in the future. Send a message to: materchristialbany@gmail.com including your full name and street address and ask us to add your email address to our database.

SACRIFICIAL OFFERING

FOOD PANTRY

Thanks to the generous donations of parishioners and members of the community we were able to serve 63 families at the food pantry this week. If you would like to make food donations, please call Victor Russak at (518) 596-6691 to arrange drop-off. Monetary donations are accepted and can be made online on WeShare at: https://materchristi.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/FoodPantry or by mailing a check to the parish office (Checks made out to: Mater Christi Food Pantry). Thank you for supporting this critical work and rallying to help our community through the COVID-19 crisis!

Number of Donations:ONLINE 61

ENVELOPES 99

TOTAL 160

Regular Offertory:ENVELOPES $10,879.00

LOOSE —

ONLINE $3,951.00

TOTAL $14,830.00

AVERAGE WEEKLY EXPENSES $15,800.00

DIFFERENCE ($970.00)

OTHER COLLECTIONSASCENSION $2.00

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICE $30.00

EASTER $6,512.00

EVANGELIST $52.00

FOOD PANTRY $1,585.00

GOOD FRIDAY/HOLY LAND $898.00

SOLEMNITY OF MARY $60.00

MASS INTENTIONS MONDAY, APRIL 20 MICHAEL HYNES Req. by his father, Les Hynes

TUESDAY, APRIL 21 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 ISABEL CASAS Req. by Susan 22ND ANNIVERSARY ANNE ADAIR Req. by Dick & Roz Adair THURSDAY, APRIL 23 REAGAN ISABEL CASSIDY Req. by Beth & Mike Cassidy SUNDAY, APRIL 26 JUNE S. REITER FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Req. by her family PEOPLE OF THE PARISH PATRICIA DUNDON Req. by her family SATURDAY, APRIL 25 JACK & DOROTHY KOREMAN 13TH ANNIVERSARY LEONILA CORDERO Req. by Marge & Jack Koreman Req. by Myrna Lyons SEVERA BANDALAN HELEN CURRY Req. by her family Req. by her family AGNES WOLFGANG JUNE REITER Req. by Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Bartlett Req. by her family JOSEPH SHEA FIONA TOBIN Req. by his family Req. by the McVeigh & Parente family ANN BUEHLER MR. & MRS. VINCENT McARDLE, SR. Req. by her family Req. by his family MEMORIAL FUND MEMBERS — INCLUDING KEVIN TUFFEY NEW MEMBER: XXXXXXXX Req. by Jim, Maureen Murphy, and family

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Just as this national emergency is having a negative economic impact on families and businesses, so it is on our parish offertory which is our principal source of revenue. By making online donations through WeShare, your contributions will go directly to the Parish bank account without having to be handled by staff and physically taken to the bank. You can make a one-time donation or set up weekly or monthly recurring donations. Use this link: https://materchristi.weshareonline.org or go to our parish website and click on the “Give Online” box in the upper right corner. The WeShare website is very easy to navigate. If you need assistance you can call LPI (WeShare) Donor Customer Service at: 800-950-9952 (press #3 and then press #2). If you would like detailed instructions to be emailed to you, please contact the parish office. You may also continue to donate by mailing in or dropping off your envelopes. We are extremely grateful for your continued support!

Burns In Memory of JUNE REITER

Req. by her family Week of April 19-25

REST IN PEACE Please remember in your prayers the souls of

Younas Azad and Anna Stiffen who passed away recently.