Fr. Greg

Virtual... Perhaps this is the best word to sum up what we have all endured during the last year and a half. Nearly every aspect of our lives has been touched by this word. We encounter each other on our phones and computers. Our work is virtual. Students go to a virtual school. Mass has been virtual. This virtual existence is a result of the restrictions placed on us by the virus, but it has also been the result of a culture that was already dominated by screens and in which real human interaction is increasingly difficult to experience. My favorite author G.K.

Happy Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)!!! A special welcome back to anyone returning to Mass this weekend as well. As I hope you’ve heard, this is the weekend where the dispensation to the obligation to attend Mass for Catholics in the Archdiocese is lifted. So in other words, we go back to normal, and Catholics here are again required to go to Mass. However, for those who are sick, have serious health concerns, compromised immunity, or other genuinely serious concerns about risks, they are not obliged to attend Mass.

Please welcome Seminarian Colm Larkin who will be with us at Prince of Peace this summer!

Peace,
Fr. Greg

Hello everyone,

Happy Pentecost! Come Holy Spirit! Teach us to pray.

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. (Romans 8:26–27)

Happy Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord! The Ascension is not Jesus getting away from us or some form of distancing, but really the opposite. As long as Jesus walked the earth, he was bodily in one place at one time (although being God, he really is omnipresent). But as Jesus ascends, it becomes clear he present to us all, at all places at all times. As Jesus says at the very end of the Gospel of Mathew, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) The Ascension is also about the enthronement of Christ and his dominion and glory.

Thank you for all you do, so often unseen and unsung, but of the utmost importance. The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual mother, whose humble fiat to God brought Christ into this world.

I’d highlight a couple happenings in the parish this week. We have a Mass of Healing and Remembrance for all parents who have lost a child before birth or baptism. Anyone can attend. It will be this Thursday, May 13th, at 7pm.

Importantly, I need to share the news on the obligation to attend Mass: Archbishop Naumann has chosen the Solemnity of the The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the weekend of June 5-6, 2021, as the occasion on which the dispensation from the obligation by the faithful to attend Mass shall be lifted. Beginning with Masses for that weekend, all the Catholic faithful residing within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas must return to observing the precept of the Church to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Dear parishioners,

I share the communication below which we posted on our website last weekend, April 10/11, and sent out in our weekly email earlier this week. I am very saddened by it, and strongly encourage your prayers along with your trust in the process.

Peace,
Fr. Greg

4/10/21

I regret to have to inform you that earlier this week we were made aware of an allegation naming Deacon Chris Slater. This allegation was posted on social media by a family member and did not relate to any of Deacon Slater’s ministry as a Deacon of the Archdiocese.

Happy Easter! This Sunday is the eighth day of the Octave of Easter, so it is still considered Easter Day itself. So keep celebrating. This Sunday is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

This Sunday, April 11th is Divine Mercy Sunday. In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Saint Pope John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000.

Christ is risen…He is risen indeed!

Do you know the "Paschal Greeting”? It is what I wrote above where we greet people on Easter with “Christ is risen,” and they respond with “He is risen indeed!” This is a tradition in almost all of Christendom, especially in the Eastern Churches, but this is certainly also a tradition in the Latin Church. This is a good tradition for us to keep, because it is our greatest truth!

St. Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.“ (1 Corinthians 15:17)