Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

April 26, 2026

Dear Parishioners,

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also goes by the name Good Shepherd Sunday. The Good Shepherd is offered as a model of leadership. In the Good Shepherd gospels, the Good Shepherd knows his sheep, brings order to the sheep, leads the sheep. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and trust that voice; the shepherd’s voice is not a strange voice. Jesus identifies himself as both the gate for the sheep and the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. All of this is found in the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel.

How blessed we are to have Pope Leo XIV as our shepherd. He leads the Church with great faith, conviction, humility, and a dedication to preaching the truth of the gospel. He has made clear that he leads with courage without fear; he cannot be intimidated. How blessed we are that he fully understands our country and is very familiar with American life. Yet his broad use of several languages, his missionary history, and his international, intercontinental experience has given him great credibility in the global Church. His recent pilgrimage to Africa demonstrated his leadership ability for people from many cultures. He lives the message of Good Shepherd Sunday.

2025-26 has been a historic period for the Catholic Church. As I have reflected on the transition of leadership in our Catholic Church, I realize we have been very blessed with the popes of my lifetime. Three of the eight popes of my lifetime have been canonized as saints. Another, Pope John Paul I, is being considered for sainthood. St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, and St. John Paul II along with Pius XII and Benedict XVI, gifted Pope Francis and Pope Leo with a rich history. How grateful I am for the leadership of Popes Francis and Leo during my time as pastor at St. Anne’s. They have both been a great source of inspiration and encouragement as they have been most faithful to the gospel of Jesus and the teachings and traditions of the Church. Indeed, they have been good shepherds!

FIRST COMMUNIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS

Easter Season is also the sacramental season. We began our First Communion Masses last weekend with three celebrations, two on Saturday, one on Sunday. Yesterday, we enjoyed two more First Communion Masses and next Saturday, we will conclude with two additional Masses. These are wonderful and happy days. I used the gospel of the multiplication of the loaves and fish as my First Communion gospel. Talking about the loaves and fish, I asked the second graders about their favorite fish and bread. Responses varied greatly from gold fish and whole wheat to lobster and baguettes! A great variety of children and families, yet we all become one as the children received the Body of Christ for the first time, truly bread from heaven!

This Wednesday, April 29, Bishop Robert Coyle will confirm our eighth graders from our Catholic school and faith formation. Let’s hope for fine weather!

Confirmation completes the Initiation for these students. I have been teaching the eighth graders in our parish school and I have very much enjoyed the experience. I think they did also. I am confident that all those to be confirmed on Wednesday will be open to the many gifts that the Holy Spirit brings. Join with me in praying for the newly confirmed that they most especially will be open to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all their future endeavors.

Peace be with you!

Fr. Tom

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