Dear Fr. John, St. Peter Parish Staff would like to thank you for your dedication to St. Peter, It has truly been a pleasure working for you. We wish you well and hope you get some well deserved rest and relaxation. We are so blessed that you will still be in the area. So, see you later!

Summertime has arrived and with it, the ever-present chance of summer storms. High winds, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and flash floods, make these storms frightening and dangerous. As I write this, my last column, all eyes are on the Gulf of Mexico as the first tropical system may be developing off the Texas coast. How ironic that the Scripture readings today, especially the Gospel, speak to us about violent storms; and how the disciples were fearing for their lives. Not to fear, but Jesus calmed the storm. In our life, when we experience “storms of life,” we can’t handle it on our own—but we can turn to the Lord who will be with us during the storms of life.

THANK YOU! Words can not express how I felt at my Retirement Mass and Celebration afterwards. Many people commented that they could feel the love the parishioners have for me and the love that I have for you. It was truly a GREAT celebration! There were many people and organizations that were part of the planning process, I thank you for a wonderful celebration. To all the singers, Ms. Mimi Blank, the organist, Judge Sterling Snowdy, the director, I THANK YOU for helping us lift our voices to the Lord in prayerful song. I will not say “goodbye” because I am not leaving Reserve. I am sure I will run into you either at the post office or the store. I will also occasionally celebrate Mass here too. Once again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for allowing me to serve as Pastor of St. Peter Parish for the past eleven years.

Moved by the Holy Spirit, we gather today as a family—a parish family as well as children of God—to celebrate the Eucharist. It is appropriate to think of our family of faith, for in today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell the crowds that whoever does the will of God is part of His family. It has been a privilege for me to be a part of the St. Peter Parish Family, especially for the past eleven and a half years to serve as pastor. On July 1st St. Peter Parish Family will once again be shepherded by a native son—Fr. Ray Hymel. I truly see the hand of God as well as the guidance of Msgr. Eyraud in the appointments of two native sons to return home and serve our parish family of St. Peter as pastor.

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE FR. JOHN MARSE’S RETIREMENT ON JUNE 9TH Starting with 11 AM Mass we will celebrate Fr. John’s upcoming retirement with a reception following at the KC Hall. All are invited to attend and celebrate. Food and refreshments will be provided. Designed envelopes are available for those of you who would like to gift Father Marse with a monetary gift. The envelopes are located at the tables at all entrances of the church. The envelopes can be placed in the collection baskets or you may bring your envelope to the celebration on June 9th, we will have a basket available for envelopes.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally called Corpus Christi. In the most recent revision of our liturgical rites, the name for this day is expanded to be a more complete reflection of our Eucharistic theology. We are a Eucharistic people, receiving sustenance from the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Eucharist so that we may be sent out as disciples, manifesting the Real Presence of Jesus in our lives as we build up the Body of Christ—the Church.

This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. However, this Sunday and next Sunday are designated as solemnities—special days that call our attention to the central mysteries of our Faith. Today, on the first Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This feast invites us to consider what we believe about God, who has revealed Himself to us in the Trinity—one God in three Persons.

The Parish Office will be closed Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day

The season of Easter concludes today with the Solemnity of Pentecost. On Pentecost, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. The descent of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the Church. As a community of faith, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to “go out into the world to proclaim the Gospel message.”

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all of our Moms. May your special day be filled with God’s blessings as we, your children, honor you on this your special day. Of course, we should always pay respect, love, and honor to our mothers, not only on Mother’s Day, but every day. I will remember all mothers, living and deceased, at every Mass this weekend. There will be a special blessing for all mothers on this day as well.

We continue to celebrate the Easter season, reflecting on the Paschal Mystery unfolding before us. Jesus focuses our attention on love being at the heart of discipleship. In a unique way the risen Lord is with us here today as we gather in faith, in the ministers and in each other, in God’s word proclaimed, and in His Body and Blood we received. As disciples of Jesus, we grow closer to Jesus and His mission by sharing God’s love with others. As we go about our day/week, may we bring the risen Lord with us wherever we go and whatever we do—striving always to give witness to His love.

As we enter the Fifth Week of Easter, the Gospels will be taken from the 15th, 16th, and 17th chapters of St. John’s Gospel. We will hear sections from these three chapters until the Solemnity of Pentecost. Today’s passage recalls the wisdom Jesus shared during the Last Supper. The Son of God uses images from creation to break open His hopes for how the disciples are to be in relationship with one another and with God. Today, He tells us, “I am the vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” Their followers, then, and now, are the branches.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday because in the three-year cycle of the Lectionary, the Gospel for each cycle is from the tenth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel in which Jesus teaches that He is the Good Shepherd.

During the Easter season, we hear how the disciples encounter the Risen Christ at different times and in different ways—all the while trying to understand the meaning of the Resurrection. In today’s Gospel from the Gospel of Luke, two disciples recounted their experience of the Risen Christ on the road of Emmaus and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread—an early understanding and connection to the Eucharist. We too are called to contemplate the implications of the Resurrection and consider how we see the Risen Lord in our lives. It helps us gather at Church, where we can seek the presence of Christ as we worship: in the assembly, in the ministers, in the Word of God, in the Holy Sacrifice, and in the Eucharist. This week let us pray that we may better discern the Lord in our midst.

As an Easter people we continue to celebrate the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection— today, we celebrate God’s unparalleled mercy. Today is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. In the Acts of the Apostles, we witness the life-changing difference Jesus’ Death and Resurrection made for the first Christian community. They no longer cling to things they thought would bring them security—possessions, wealth, status, proof. When they received Jesus’ blessings of Peace from His own breath, saw the nail marks with their own eyes, and touched His wounds with their own hands, everything changed. Now, their mouths would carry Christ’s message of mercy to the ends of the earth. Their eyes would see one another differently. Their hands would heal and forgive, and they would be believed because they were “of one heart and mind.” Because of that community who committed their lives to one another in Christ, here we are. Because of us and how we commit ourselves to live together of one heart and mind in Jesus, others may also come to believe. For we belong to one another because all belong to Christ.

HAPPY EASTER! We sing with joy ALLELUIA! The Lord is Risen! We gather in joy to celebrate the most wonderful of days—Easter Sunday. Easter is more than the Easter bunny, or Easter egg hunts, or Easter candy. It is the fact that Christ is Risen! Not even death could keep Him from us. So mighty is His love that He transformed the evil of the cross into a blessing through which He can eternally unite us to God. He is here! He is Risen! Alleluia!! Alleluia!!

Today, we begin the holiest of weeks in the Liturgical Year with Palm Sunday. We begin under the portico calling down God’s blessing upon the palms that we will carry into church. On the first Palm Sunday, the crowds accompanying Jesus cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” We, too, sing Hosannas today as we enter the holiest week of the year—the week when we recall Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Wednesday, March 27th. Confessions will be heard at St. Peter Church from 4:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.

As we draw closer to Holy Week, we hear Jesus talk about His approaching death. Today, Jesus uses the image of a grain of wheat. He says, “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Jesus’ message to His disciples is not so much about His death as it is about eternal life. As Christians, we know that as difficult as death is, our true focus—our true hope—is eternal life, trusting that our Lord is our source of eternal salvation. During this final week before Holy Week, let us keep in mind that just as our Lenten journey will not end with Good Friday, but with Easter, so too does our own life’s journey end not in death but in new life.

If you can donate palm fronds for our Passion Sunday liturgy, please bring them to the rectory by March 21. If you have some to donate, but can’t bring them, call 536-2887.