Alleluia! He Is Risen!

03-31-2013Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Alleluia, He is Risen! After journeying through another Lenten Season we have once again arrived at the great Feast of Easter. We gather to celebrate the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; the victory Christ has won over sin and death; the gates of Heaven being opened wide to those who put their faith in Christ. "Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightening of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples, " (The Exsultet, Easter Proclamation).

If you are visiting St. Joan of Arc parish I welcome you, I'm glad that you're here.

If you are Catholic and do not attend Mass on a regular basis, I invite you to join us here at St. Joan of Arc and let us help you to actively live your faith by attending Mass every Sunday.

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Freedom's Battle

03-17-2013Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate the last Sunday before Holy Week during this Year of Faith, we are reminded of the importance of faith. First, we have the election of a new pope. This is a time for Catholics around the world to pray for our new Vicar of Christ. The words of Our Lord, "You are Peter… and on this rock I will build my Church" point to the beautiful role of our Holy Father and why we need to pray for him everyday.

We also celebrate the final "scrutiny," for the candidates who will be received into the Church this Easter. This means they will receive Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. So today's scrutiny is a pre-baptismal exorcism. Today's exorcism is a powerful reminder that Jesus is greater that Satan.

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Deacon Jim Springer

03-10-2013Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As many of you already know, our Deacon Jim Springer is very ill and in need of your prayers at this time. Deacon Jim has served faithfully at St. Joan of Arc for the past four years. He is truly a man of God who in deeply in love with Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. He has generously shared the faith throughout his many years as an ordained deacon for the Church. His presence with the Hispanic community has touched many hearts and brought many to a deeper love and understanding of Our Lord. He is a gifted teacher and his passion for sharing the Good News is a tremendous blessing to all who know and love him.

In a recent conversation with him about dealing with illness and the future he responded with complete surrender and trust in God's plan for him. Even in the midst of great suffering and hardship, Deacon Jim reminded me of the importance of faith in the Divine Physician who can heal all our illnesses.

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Electing a Pope

03-03-2013Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are called to be a people of hope and so what can we hope for in the coming days as the cardinals prepare to elect our new Holy Father?

Here are the steps that will be part of the election process:

The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place at what is called a conclave behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel.

Secret ballots can be cast once on the first day of the conclave… the voting continues until a new pontiff is elected.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in the conclave; older cardinals do not enter the Sistine Chapel. In theory, any baptized male Catholic can be elected pope.

The names of nine voting cardinals are chosen at random: three to serve as "scrutineers," or voting judges; three to collect the votes of any sick cardinals who remain in their quarters at the Domus Sanctae Marthae; and three "revisers" who check the work of the scrutineers.

The paper ballot is rectangular. On the top half is printed the Latin phrase "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" ("I elect as the most high pontiff"), and the lower half is blank for the writing of the name of the person chosen.

Each cardinal then walks to the altar, holding up his folded ballot so it can be seen, and says aloud: "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected." He places his ballot on a plate, or paten, and then slides it into a receptacle.

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