Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

He is Risen. Alleluia! Alleluia!

April 5, 2023

Already in this life we have within us a participation in the resurrection of Christ. In a certain way, with him we have already risen. Eternal life has already begun in this moment. It begins during our lifetime, which is oriented to the moment of final resurrection. And we are already raised, in fact, through Baptism. We are inserted into the death and resurrection of Christ and we participate in his new life. Therefore, as we await the last day, we have within us a seed of resurrection, as an anticipation of the full resurrection which we will receive as an inheritance.

This thought gives us hope: we are walking toward our resurrection. To see Jesus, to encounter Jesus: this is our joy! This is our destiny!

~ Pope Francis

Pope Francis laments ‘Easter of war’ in Ukraine

April 21, 2022

~ by Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter

ROME – Pope Francis used his Easter message to again appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying the country has been “dragged” into a “cruel and senseless war” and warning that if the conflict escalates, it could lead to the destruction of humanity.

“May the leaders of nations hear people’s pleas for peace,” the Pope said on Easter Sunday,. “May they listen to that troubling questions posed by scientists almost 70 years ago.”

The Pope read from the 1955 Russell-Einstein Manifesto, “shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?” which warned of the global destruction that could be caused by nuclear weapons.

“May there be an end to the flexing of muscles while people are suffering,” the Pope pleaded. “Please, let us not get used to war!”

“I hold in my heart all the many Ukrainian victims, the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, the divided families, the elderly left to themselves, the lives broken and the cities razed to the ground,” the Pope said on Easter Sunday.

The pope noted that despite the pain and destruction caused by warm he was pleased to see countries throughout Europe opening their borders and homes to refugees fleeing the conflict.

Francis lamented that after two years of a global health crisis – where many people have come together “pooling our strengths and resources” the world is now facing an ‘Easter of war’. “We need the crucified and risen Lord so that we can believe in the victory of love, and hope for reconciliation.”

Pope Francis opens Holy Week with call for Easter Truce

April 13, 2022

~ Associated Press

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis opened Holy week on April 10 with a call for an Easter truce in Ukraine to make room for a negotiated peace, highlighting the need for leaders to “make some sacrifices for the good of the people.”

Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass before crowds in St. Peter’s Square for the first time since the pandemic, Francis called for “weapons to be laid down to begin an Easter truce, not to reload weapons and resume fighting, no! A truce to reach peace through real negotiations.”

Francis did not refer directly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the reference was clear, and he has repeatedly denounced the war and the suffering brought to innocent civilians.

During his Palm Sunday homily, the pontiff denounced “the folly of war” that leads people to commit “senseless acts of cruelty. When we resort to violence…we lose sight of why we are in the world. We see in this folly of war, where Christ is crucified yet another time.”

Easter Sunday

March 30, 2021

Each week during Lent,
one of the Cabrini Lay Missionaries has offered a reflection.
The reflection for Easter Sunday is offered by
Lorraine Campanelli, CLM Director

Easter Sunday

Alleluia! Jesus is Risen! Alleluia!

After 40 days of not using the word Alleluia, isn’t it a magnificent word to hear? “Alleluia, Praise the Lord!”

Our journey to Jerusalem is over. Everything Jesus said has come true. In John 2:19, we read, “Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They did destroy the temple but as promised, Jesus rose in three days and with it brought eternal life and the forgiveness of sins to all of us. Truly, this is an Alleluia moment! Jesus, crucified, is alive!
As we end our reflections let us be reminded of the final blessing for our Easter Mass,
‘Go in peace, Alleluia, Alleluia. Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia.’

Let us go and celebrate the Good News! Blessed Easter to all!