The 4th Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday that means Sunday of Joy. This Sunday we enjoy a relaxation from the Lenten austerity. The name of this Sunday is derived from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon in Latin: Laetare Ierusalem (Rejoice, Jerusalem).In the liturgy we may use a rose colour instead of the purple that is prescribed to the season of Lent. The rose (or pink) colour indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide (from the 5th Sunday of Lent). This Sunday, as an external sign of our internal joy for the upcoming Feasts of the Resurrection, we may have flowers in the altar.
Today also the elect have their second scrutiny. Through the Gospel account about the man who was born blind they are reminded that Christ the Redeemer is the light of the world. This is the next step on their way to fulfill their desire for purification and redemption that will be celebrated by the Sacraments of Initiation. In the rite of exorcism, the elect, who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are free from the effects of sin and from the influence of the devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Saviour.
Let us keep the elect in our prayers!
This week we begin the month of April. The Holy Father calls on the faithful throughout the world to pray during April for the following intention: For doctors and their humanitarian collaborators in war zones, who risk their lives to save the lives of others.
This week we also observe the first Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the month with Masses respectively at 7 pm, 9 am, and 10 am.

God bless,
Father Peter