EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD | APRIL 12, 2O2O

OOur world wants us to believe that life is only what we make of it. Today, we realize how untrue that is. Life is ultimately about what God makes of it, and the resurrection of Jesus reveals this. Alleluia, Christ is risen! Who do you understand yourself to be? What we did yesterday,

are doing today, and may do tomorrow pretty much determine how we perceive ourselves. We even perceive Jesus this way in limiting our vision of him to his earthly accomplishments. But, we know through today’s triumphant celebration that Christ is much more than his earthly legacy. The transfigured and resurrected Christ is the beginning, the end, and the fulfillment of all things and every person. All that Jesus did stands in second place to who we now know him to be. Do we realize that this will be our journey too? Christ is risen. Alleluia, alleluia!

Parish of Mater Christi 40 Hopewell Street, Albany, NY 12208

Phone: (518) 489-3204 | Email: materchristialbany@gmail.com

WEEKLY BULLETIN

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllllllllllllllllllldddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttsssssssssssssssssssss uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssssssss ttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooo bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee tttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttt llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssssss ooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ooooooooffffffffffffff iiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt..... TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTToooooooooooooooddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,,,,,,,,, wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeee rrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww tttttttttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttt iiiiiiiiiiissssssssss.... LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffffffffffffffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiisssssssssssss uuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy aaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbboooooouuuuuuuuuuttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttt GGGGGGGGGGGGoooooooodddddddddddddd mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss ooooooooooooffffffffffff iiiiiiiiiittttttttt,,, aaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnndddddddddd ttttthhhhhhhheee rrrreeeeeeeeessssuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeccccttttttiiiiioooonn ooffffffffff JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJeeeeeesssssuuuuuuuuussssss tttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssss...... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAlllllllllllllllllllleeeeelllluuuiiiiiaaaaaaa,,,,, CCCCCCCCCCCCCChhhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrriiiiiiiiiissssssssstttttttttttt iiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssss rrriissseeeeennn!!!! WWWWWWWWWhhhhhhhhooooooooooo ddddddoooooooooooo yyyyyoooooooouuuuuuuuu uuuuuunnnndddddddeeeerrrrssstttttttaaaaaannnnnnddddddddd yyyyyyyyyoouuurrrrsssseeeeellfff ttttttoooo bbbbee??? WWWhhhaatt wwwweeee dddddiiiiiddddddddd yyyyyyyyeeeeeessss

iiiinnnnnngggggg ttttttttttooooooddddddddaaaaaayyyyyyy,,,, aaaaaannnnnnndddddd mmmmaaaayyyy dddddddooooo ttttttoooooooommmmmmmoooorrrrrrrrrrroooowwwww ppppprrrrrrrreeeeeettttttttttttttyyyy mmmmuucchh dddeeeetttteerrrrmmmiinnnneeee hhhhooooowwwwww wwee ppeeerrrcceeeeiiiivvvee oouuurrsseelllvvveeeessss. WWWWWeeee JJJJeeeessssuuuuss tttthhhhiiiissss wwwwaaaayyyy iinn lliimmiittiiinnngggg ooouurr vviissiiioonn oof him tto hiss eeaarrtthhlllyy aaccccoommmpppplliisshhmmeennttss.. BBBuuuttt,,, wwwweeeehhh tttooodddaayy’’ss ttrriiuummpphhhaannt celebbrraattiioonnn tthhatt CChrist is muchh mmmoorree ttthhaann hhiiss eeaaarrttthhllyyy llleeeggaaacccgguurreedd aanndd rreessuurrrreecctteedd CChhrriisstt iiss tthhee bbeeggiinnnniinngg,, tthhee eenndd,, aanndd tthhee ffuullfifillllmmeenntt ooff aallll tthhiinnggss aanndd

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in social settings, Bishop Scharfenberger has announced that all regularly scheduled public Masses in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, including weddings, baptisms, and funerals, are canceled until further notice.

• All Mater Christi parish events are also canceled until further notice.

• Although there will be no daily or weekend Masses at Mater Christi, our church will be open from dawn to dusk for anyone who would like to stop and say a prayer or light a candle. Please be aware that it may not be disinfected between each visitor; however, the church is being cleaned regularly.

• Our Parish Office is closed and staff continue to work from home. Please feel free to contact us at (518) 489-3204 or materchristialbany@gmail.com. We are still checking messages and email.

• Fr. James and Fr. Kyle are offering private Masses each day for the intentions of the People of the Parish and also for the intentions that have already been scheduled. If you would like a Mass intention rescheduled, please contact the office.

• The Diocese of Albany will continue to provide updated guidelines. The Diocese has put together a site of spiritual resources including: links to daily Scripture readings, the Pope’s messages, and televised Masses. Please visit: https://www.rcda.org/coronavirus to access this content.

STAY CONNECTED

Please follow us on the following social media platforms to stay connected and receive updated information about what’s happening at the parish:

Facebook Instagram MyParishApp ParishofMaterChristi materchristialb Parish of Mater Christi

YouTube Twitter Online ParishofMaterChristi materchristialb parishes.rcda.org/materchristi

Email Correspondence: If you have not been receiving electronic messages from us, we strongly encourage you to please share a household email address with our office to allow for more timely and cost effective communication of parish news and information in the future. Send a message to: materchristialbany@gmail.com including your full name and street address and ask us to add your email address to our database.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 12 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 [24]/ Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1-10 Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 [1]/Mt 28:8-15 Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41/Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 [5b]/Jn 20:11-18 Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10/Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 [3b]/Lk 24:13-35 Thursday: Acts 3:11-26/Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 [2ab]/Lk 24:35-48 Friday: Acts 4:1-12/Ps 118: 1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a [22]/ Jn 21:1-14 Saturday: Acts 4:13-21/Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21 [21a]/Mk 16:9-15 Next Sunday: Acts 2:42-47/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 [1]/1 Pt 1:3-9/Jn 20:19-31

MASS INTENTIONS

MONDAY, APRIL 13 15TH ANNIVERSARY CHARLES A. SANO, SR. Req. by his wife, Barbara and children (Intention will be offered in a private Mass)

TUESDAY, APRIL 14 KATHLEEN & WHITNEY LIBBEY Req. by their family EILEEN A. SULLIVAN Req. by Kathleen Maloney & David Canova JIM JORDAN Req. by Sheila FRANK TAORMINA Req. by his loving wife and family WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 SATURDAY, APRIL 18 — CONTINUED MARGARET T. CRUPI PEARL, ALFRED & MICHAEL ALVARO Req. by the McVeigh & Parente family Req. by their sister, Edie Papa FREDERICK FISCHER THURSDAY, APRIL 16 Req. by the Dirisio family JIM MOODY SANTO TRIOLO Req. by Sandy Cowin Req. by his family PATRICK MONACHINO

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 Req. by Jane Weber DAN HALLORAN Req. by his wife SUNDAY, ARIL 19 HELENE ERICKSON SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Req. by her Godmother, Marie HEATHER MEGAN SHEPHERD DAVID RAGULE Req. by her family Req. by Maureen Kennedy-Ragule FRANK CALDERONE SEVERA BANDALAN Req. by his children Req. by her family

Burns In Memory of EILEEN A. SULLIVAN

Req. by Kathy Maloney & David Canova Week of April 12-18

REST IN PEACE Please remember in your prayers the souls of those

who have passed away recently and especially those who have died from the Coronavirus

Videos for all services except the Easter Vigil Mass will be posted on both: Our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/parishofmaterchristi

Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/parishofmaterchristi/

The Easter Vigil Mass will be livestreamed and only available on our Facebook page

Holy Thursday | April 9 7:00pm — Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Friday of the Passion of the Lord | April 10 2:00pm — Stations of the Cross

3:00pm — Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday | April 11 8:00pm — The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

Easter Sunday | April 12 9:00am — Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord

Programs for each of the four services are posted on our website Alleluia!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! The generosity and support shown by our Mater Christi family is unsurprising yet so appreciated. Just as this national emergency is having a negative economic impact on families and businesses, so it is on our parish offertory which is our principal source of revenue. By making online donations through WeShare, your contributions will go directly to the Parish bank account without having to be handled by staff and physically taken to the bank. You can make a one-time donation or set up weekly or monthly recurring donations. Use this link: https://materchristi.weshareonline.org or go to our parish website and click on the “Give Online” box in the upper right corner. The WeShare website is very easy to navigate. If you need assistance you can call LPI (WeShare) Donor Customer Service at: 800-950-9952 (press #3 and then press #2). If you would like detailed instructions to be emailed to you, please contact the parish office. You may also continue to donate by mailing in or dropping off your envelopes. We are extremely grateful for your continued support!

SACRIFICIAL OFFERING

Alexa, tell me a joke… How many syllables does the word “Gloria” have?

CATHOLICS: 18

REGULAR OFFERTORY VIA ENVELOPES $7,686.00

ORDINARY COLLECTION ONLINE $5,854.00

TOTAL ORDINARY COLLECTIONS $13,540.00

OTHER COLLECTIONS

ASCENSION $10.00

BLACK, NATIVE & LATIN AMERICAN MISSION $20.00

CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN $10.00

CATHOLIC RELIEF $75.00

EASTER $2,105.00

EASTERN EUROPE $10.00

EVANGELIST $45.00

FOOD PANTRY $1,077.00

GOOD FRIDAY/HOLY LAND $50.00

RICE BOWL $110.00

PARISH OFFICE We made a very conscious decision at the onset of this crisis to stay true to the mission of the Church, and therefore Christ, by doing whatever we could, in whatever capacity allowed, to continue our pastoral presence in the community. Little did we know those efforts would be reciprocated ten-fold by our Mater Christi family. We are all so thankful for your continued support, patience, compassion, and generosity as we face this constantly evolving drama. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you” ( John 15:9). As we have loved you, you have loved us. Thank you. Peace and blessings for a Holy Easter.

FOOD PANTRY The Mater Christi Food Pantry has been moving mountains recently. We've served 130 families since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and the need will continue as the crisis progresses. 

I want to especially thank everyone who has dropped off food donations this past week. We have had such a high demand for assistance, that without your donations, we would have actually run out of food, and been unable to feed the many families who called for assistance towards the end of the week. Your donations really are making a difference in the lives of others! Thank you so much for your support. 

If you are interested in donating food, please call the pantry phone number, 518-596-6691. If you would like to send a monetary donation, please send a check, payable to "Mater Christi Food Pantry" to the parish office, or donate online with this link:  https://materchristi.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/FoodPantry. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. Peace and health.

MUSIC MINISTRY

This weekend, we remember the singular most important event that ever occurred. Because of Jesus' choice to take the punishment for our sins out of love for us, we are able to have hope. Imagine a life in which there was no chance of going to heaven - where there were no churches, no God - and the emptiness that comes with thinking that this fragile life is all there is. Jesus came to give us hope. Some of the saints say that heaven is not only a place, but the deepest friendship imaginable with God. Recall your deepest connection with someone, your most intimate friendship; this is just a drop in the lake of joy that the Lord has for you. Why can't we have heaven now? Wearily plodding day after day through the monotonous hardships of life make heaven seem untouchable sometimes. The

incredible thing is, we cannot receive heaven because God won't give it; it's because our hearts are still too small to receive it.  This is the most incredible paradox. All we can fit is a drop of heaven, but God wants to give us more than that. Each soul is like a cup - God wants us to grow into oceans. That's why we are called to grow in faith, compassion, patience, self-discipline, humility in this life. Often, God changes the evil effects of pain, grief, suffering, and death on our souls into self-knowledge, compassion, healing, peace, and joy. By growing through good, and through hardship, we become more and more able to hold the immense expanse of joy within ourselves. Jesus' friendship is that joy.

Kathy Naughter Director of

Parish Operations

Jasper Stoller Administrative Asst.

Victor Russak Food Pantry Coordinator

Rose MayMusic Director