Last Sunday, with the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Season of Easter came to its completion. In preparation for Easter, we lived the Great Forty Days of Lent. It was a time to prepare our hearts. As I have mentioned before, the way that all of you entered into that season was really moving. I will not rehearse all of the things I’ve said previously, but will simply say thank you for the great example you provided during the Lenten Season. It was extraordinary. Then, Easter arrived. During those seven weeks of Easter we listened to the Acts of the Apostles and heard how the Church at its beginning spread the Gospel to both the Jews and to the Gentiles. The Church grew in numbers and people came alive in Christ. These realities were not simply relegated to the time of the Apostles. We see that same reality present here in our midst. Our Easter began on Holy Saturday night when the numbers of the Church grew through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion. And now, the Easter Season concluded, the Church moves into what is known as “Ordinary Time.” I’m not sure I particularly like that name. It can give the impression that it is the “blah” kind of time. That is not what we mean when we call it “Ordinary.” That name arises from the latin word, “ordinalis” which simply means a series of numbers. The root word is “ordo” from which the English word, “order” arises. So, that is why we say, for example, that this is the “Ninth Week in Ordinary Time.” We will now be in Ordinary Time until the First Sunday of Advent. (Just to add another layer of confusion, however, even though we are in Ordinary Time now, this Sunday and next Sunday are major solemnities; The Solemnity of the Holy Trinity and the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.) The Month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Catholics have long dedicated the Month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This year, on June 11th, the bishops of the United States will consecrate our country to the Sacred Heart. I encourage each family to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart as well. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is on June 12. Why not come to Mass that day and cultivate a love for the Heart of Jesus? There are various ways to live out Devotion to the Sacred Heart, including the “Enthronement of the Sacred Heart” and the “First Friday Devotion. During June, I hope to provide some information on those things, but you can also just look it up! In other news, this past week, Pope Leo XIV issued an important encyclical letter on Artificial Intelligence. I was struck by the amount of worldwide attention it received. I have only read a third of the encyclical at the time of this writing, but I am looking forward to making my way through the rest of it. From what I have read thus far, the letter draws attention to the centrality of the dignity of every human person and it cautions against anything that might infringe upon that dignity. As Artificial Intelligence continues to develop exponentially, the Holy Father is calling all of us to reflect upon the moral principles that should guide the development and use of these technologies. Technology ought to serve the human family and the dignity of the human person, not attempt to replace them. And, the Holy Father cautions against a sort of idolatry of technology in which we are tempted to place all our hope in false promises. He is not condemning these technologies, but he is insisting that any technology ought to serve the dignity of the human person. Those are just some quick thoughts on what I have read thus far. Lastly, at the Masses I had last week, I invited anyone who is not yet confirmed to contact us so that you can receive this important Sacrament. Why deprive yourself of this great gift? A few people already contacted me about it. So, if you fall into that category, please reach out. Let’s get you Confirmed! And, same goes for baptism. Parents and grandparents: Don’t delay having your children baptized. Sometimes people talk about scheduling the baptism for six months from now when “so and so” will be in town. I know you’d like “so and so” to be there, but it is more important that the baby be baptized as soon as possible. Baptism unites that baby to Christ and makes her a sharer in eternal life. It’s more important to have the baby baptized than it is to find the perfect time for it. Get it done!! Your Brother in Christ, Fr. David Barnes