∫ [Piano Music] ∫
The following presentation is made possible
by the generosity of the viewers
of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Adrienne Walsh,
and our celebrant is Father Greg Sakowitz.

∫ The King of Love My Shepherd Is, ∫
∫ Whose goodness fails me never, ∫
∫ I’m nothing lack if I am His, ∫
∫ And He is mine forever. ∫

Good morning and welcome as we continue our Easter Season
and begin in the name of the Father
and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Our God is loving, compassionate, and always forgiving.
We are sinners who take a moment of silence
and ask forgiveness and the Lord’s mercy.

Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you nourish us with the gifts of the Holy Eucharist.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

As God’s forgiven family, we sing praise to our God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

And together let us pray for the grace
to follow Christ more closely.

Loving and compassionate God, lead us to a share
in the joys of Heaven so that the humble flock
may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice and proclaimed, “Let the whole house of Israel
know for certain that God has made
both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart
and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments
and was exhorting them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about 3,000 persons were added that day.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

∫ Fresh and green are the pastures ∫
∫ where He gives me repose. ∫
∫ Near restful waters He leads me; ∫
∫ He revives my soul. ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter.

Beloved, if you are patient when you suffer
for doing what is good, this is grace before God.

For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example
that you should follow in His footsteps.

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.
When He was insulted, He returned no insult.

When He suffered, He did not threaten.
Instead, He handed Himself over to the One who judges justly.

He Himself bore our sins in His Body upon the Cross
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.

By His wounds you have been healed,
for you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now
returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

∫ I am the Good Shepherd, says the Lord; ∫
∫ I know My sheep and Mine know Me. ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to You, O Lord.

And Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate,
but climbs over elsewhere, is a thief and a robber.

Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him,
and the sheep hear his voice.

As the shepherd calls his own sheep by name,
he leads them out.
When he has driven out all of his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of a stranger.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize
what He was trying to tell them.

So Jesus again said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.”

Whoever enters through Me will be saved.
He will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy.
I came so they might have life
and have it more abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

One stormy night at sea,
the ship’s captain saw what looked like
the lights of another ship heading right toward him.

He immediately had his signalman blink in Morse code
to the oncoming ship, “Change your course 10 degrees south.”

The reply came back in Morse code,
“Change your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain responded, “I am a captain.
Change your course south.”

To his reply was, “I’m a seaman first class.
Change your course north.”

The captain, angry, signaled back and said,
“I said, change your course south.
I’m standing on a battleship.”

Which came in the reply of Morse code:
“I said, change your course north.
I’m standing in a lighthouse.”

[Laughter]

I really liked that joke.

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own darkness
or wanting things our own way,
we don’t see what is around us or the light around us.
We only see what we want to see.

We dismiss Jesus’ teaching as being too unrealistic
or way too simplistic to deal with the complexities
of our problems in life today.

But it’s in such simple values—
like love for one another,
forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and justice—
that we will discover the light of God
to guide us through the darkness.

To have life, to have it to the full,
demands that we are journeying by the way of Christ.

Jesus is our Light.

Jesus is our Life.

I was ordained to the Priesthood almost 47 years ago,
on May 9, 1979, to be exact.

I thank God every day for His gift of Priesthood
and the gift of each and every one of you.

There have been, over these 47 years,
much tremendous joy,
but also, at times, very hard times.

I’ve learned many things over the last 47 years,
and much more I still need to learn.

But I’d like to share five things
that have captured these last 47 years in Priesthood.

Number one: sickness and serious surgery
require a complete letting go, especially of one’s work,
and surrendering in total trust and faith in God.

This is easy to say in good times and times of health,
and truly tested when surgery awaits us.

Secondly: treat everyone with dignity, respect,
a forgiving heart, compassion, love, and mercy,
and see life through their eyes—
see life through someone else’s eyes.

And by the way, the word “compassion,”
from the Greek, means “to suffer with.”
If you are a compassionate person,
you have the ability to suffer with an individual, to walk with them.

Thirdly: always keep a good sense of humor.
It takes 14 muscles to smile and 72 muscles to frown—
and that’s a fact.

Number four: commitment is hard work.
Rooted in the Lord,
things have a way of working out.

And lastly: an unforgiving heart—
grudges and bitterness can own us,
causing unhappiness and weighing us down.

I’ve said this before: as we grow older,
is life making me better or bitter?
As I’m growing older, is life making me better or bitter?

And the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that a well-made choice
is no guarantee against hard times.

It’s perhaps only in such times
we hear the invitation to enter into the emptiness
which God alone can fill.

As we go forward in faith and in prayer, remember this:
I shall pass this world but once.
Any good that I can do,
any kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.

And together, as God’s family, we profess our faith:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became Man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and His Kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins,
and I look forward to the Resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

With confidence, faith, and joy,
we bring the Lord our needs, our prayers, our very lives.

Our response to each prayer will be:
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy,
may they be strengthened to care for their flock,
as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has shown them.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer and live in darkness,
may Christ’s Resurrection bring light, peace,
and hope into their lives.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
may this Easter Season fill their hearts
with the light of our Risen Lord.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the end of wars and violence
against all people throughout the world.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving and gracious God, we ask You to hear our prayers,
those voiced, and all our needs and prayers known to You,
found deep within our hearts.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫
∫ [Piano Music continues] ∫

And pray, my sisters and brothers,
that our sacrifice be acceptable to God,
the Father Almighty.

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of His Name,
for our good and the good of all His Holy Church.

Amen.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight
in these Paschal Mysteries, so that the renewal
constantly at work within us
may be the cause of unending joy.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim You, O Lord,
but above all to laud You yet more gloriously
when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

For He is the true Lamb who has taken away
the sins of the world.
By dying, He destroyed our death;
by rising, He restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with Paschal joy,
together we sing Your hymn of praise:

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of Hosts, ∫
∫ Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the font of all holiness.

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us the Body and Blood
of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed
and entered into His Passion,
He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
for this is My Body,
which will be given up for you.”

When supper was ended, He took the chalice,
and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
for this is the chalice of My Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant,
which will be poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of Me.”

The Mystery of Faith.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His Life,
Death, and Resurrection,
we offer You, Lord, the Bread of Life
and the chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that You have held us worthy
to be in Your presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Leo, our Pope, Blase, our Bishop,
the bishops, clergy, religious brothers and sisters,
and all who serve in Your faith communities.

Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection,
and all who have died in Your mercy.

Remember in a very special way
all the deceased loved ones who have gone home to God.
Welcome them into the light of Your face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

Blessed Joseph, her spouse, the Blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased You throughout the ages,
that we may be co-heirs to eternal life
and may praise and glorify You
through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Him, and with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

With confidence, faith, and joy, as God’s family,
we then together pray:

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil;
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of Your mercy,
we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,
as we await the Blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours,
now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you,”
look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with Your will.

Who live and reign forever and ever,

Amen.

May the peace of the Lord be with all of you.

And with your spirit.

Let us share the Lord’s peace and joy with those around us.

For those who are praying at home,
maybe in a nursing facility or a hospital,
from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
to each and every one of you,
God’s blessings, peace, and the Lord’s joy.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ grant us peace. ∫

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

For those of you at home,
please turn to page six in our TV Mass guide
and join in singing our Communion song,
“The Love of the Lord.”

∫ All that I counted as gain ∫
∫ now I consider as loss, ∫
∫ empty and worthless to me ∫

∫ Is the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫
∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

∫ Riches and honors will fade, ∫
∫ earthly delight disappear, ∫
∫ fade like the grass of the field ∫
∫ in the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫

∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

And together we pray the prayer
of the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect,
and bless all boys and girls
who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy,
as we offer them our hearts,
in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

And may they see God’s mercy in action
through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

And together, let us pray:

Look upon Your flock, Kind Shepherd,
and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures
the sheep You have redeemed
by the Precious Blood of Your Son.

Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

And may the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
descend upon all of us forever and ever.

Amen.

Our celebration has ended.
Our Easter Season continues.
We go in peace.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lord, You give a great commission: ∫
∫ “Heal the sick and preach the Word.” ∫
∫ Lest the Church neglect its mission ∫
∫ and the Gospel go unheard, ∫
∫ help us witness to Your purpose ∫
∫ with renewed integrity; ∫
∫ with the Spirit’s gifts empower us… ∫

My friends, I just want to thank you
for the ways in which you support the TV Mass
here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Let us continue to pray for one another.
Please consider making an offering
so that we can keep the TV Mass on the air.

May God bless you, your family members, and your friends.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated,
and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

 

∫ [Piano Music] ∫
The following presentation is made possible
by the generosity of the viewers
of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Adrienne Walsh,
and our celebrant is Father Greg Sakowitz.

∫ The King of Love My Shepherd Is, ∫
∫ Whose goodness fails me never, ∫
∫ I’m nothing lack if I am His, ∫
∫ And He is mine forever. ∫

Good morning and welcome as we continue our Easter Season
and begin in the name of the Father
and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Our God is loving, compassionate, and always forgiving.
We are sinners who take a moment of silence
and ask forgiveness and the Lord’s mercy.

Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you nourish us with the gifts of the Holy Eucharist.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

As God’s forgiven family, we sing praise to our God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

And together let us pray for the grace
to follow Christ more closely.

Loving and compassionate God, lead us to a share
in the joys of Heaven so that the humble flock
may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice and proclaimed, “Let the whole house of Israel
know for certain that God has made
both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart
and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments
and was exhorting them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about 3,000 persons were added that day.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

∫ Fresh and green are the pastures ∫
∫ where He gives me repose. ∫
∫ Near restful waters He leads me; ∫
∫ He revives my soul. ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter.

Beloved, if you are patient when you suffer
for doing what is good, this is grace before God.

For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example
that you should follow in His footsteps.

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.
When He was insulted, He returned no insult.

When He suffered, He did not threaten.
Instead, He handed Himself over to the One who judges justly.

He Himself bore our sins in His Body upon the Cross
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.

By His wounds you have been healed,
for you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now
returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

∫ I am the Good Shepherd, says the Lord; ∫
∫ I know My sheep and Mine know Me. ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to You, O Lord.

And Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate,
but climbs over elsewhere, is a thief and a robber.

Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him,
and the sheep hear his voice.

As the shepherd calls his own sheep by name,
he leads them out.
When he has driven out all of his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of a stranger.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize
what He was trying to tell them.

So Jesus again said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.”

Whoever enters through Me will be saved.
He will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy.
I came so they might have life
and have it more abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

One stormy night at sea,
the ship’s captain saw what looked like
the lights of another ship heading right toward him.

He immediately had his signalman blink in Morse code
to the oncoming ship, “Change your course 10 degrees south.”

The reply came back in Morse code,
“Change your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain responded, “I am a captain.
Change your course south.”

To his reply was, “I’m a seaman first class.
Change your course north.”

The captain, angry, signaled back and said,
“I said, change your course south.
I’m standing on a battleship.”

Which came in the reply of Morse code:
“I said, change your course north.
I’m standing in a lighthouse.”

[Laughter]

I really liked that joke.

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own darkness
or wanting things our own way,
we don’t see what is around us or the light around us.
We only see what we want to see.

We dismiss Jesus’ teaching as being too unrealistic
or way too simplistic to deal with the complexities
of our problems in life today.

But it’s in such simple values—
like love for one another,
forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and justice—
that we will discover the light of God
to guide us through the darkness.

To have life, to have it to the full,
demands that we are journeying by the way of Christ.

Jesus is our Light.

Jesus is our Life.

I was ordained to the Priesthood almost 47 years ago,
on May 9, 1979, to be exact.

I thank God every day for His gift of Priesthood
and the gift of each and every one of you.

There have been, over these 47 years,
much tremendous joy,
but also, at times, very hard times.

I’ve learned many things over the last 47 years,
and much more I still need to learn.

But I’d like to share five things
that have captured these last 47 years in Priesthood.

Number one: sickness and serious surgery
require a complete letting go, especially of one’s work,
and surrendering in total trust and faith in God.

This is easy to say in good times and times of health,
and truly tested when surgery awaits us.

Secondly: treat everyone with dignity, respect,
a forgiving heart, compassion, love, and mercy,
and see life through their eyes—
see life through someone else’s eyes.

And by the way, the word “compassion,”
from the Greek, means “to suffer with.”
If you are a compassionate person,
you have the ability to suffer with an individual, to walk with them.

Thirdly: always keep a good sense of humor.
It takes 14 muscles to smile and 72 muscles to frown—
and that’s a fact.

Number four: commitment is hard work.
Rooted in the Lord,
things have a way of working out.

And lastly: an unforgiving heart—
grudges and bitterness can own us,
causing unhappiness and weighing us down.

I’ve said this before: as we grow older,
is life making me better or bitter?
As I’m growing older, is life making me better or bitter?

And the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that a well-made choice
is no guarantee against hard times.

It’s perhaps only in such times
we hear the invitation to enter into the emptiness
which God alone can fill.

As we go forward in faith and in prayer, remember this:
I shall pass this world but once.
Any good that I can do,
any kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.

And together, as God’s family, we profess our faith:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became Man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and His Kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins,
and I look forward to the Resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

With confidence, faith, and joy,
we bring the Lord our needs, our prayers, our very lives.

Our response to each prayer will be:
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy,
may they be strengthened to care for their flock,
as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has shown them.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer and live in darkness,
may Christ’s Resurrection bring light, peace,
and hope into their lives.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
may this Easter Season fill their hearts
with the light of our Risen Lord.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the end of wars and violence
against all people throughout the world.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving and gracious God, we ask You to hear our prayers,
those voiced, and all our needs and prayers known to You,
found deep within our hearts.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫
∫ [Piano Music continues] ∫

And pray, my sisters and brothers,
that our sacrifice be acceptable to God,
the Father Almighty.

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of His Name,
for our good and the good of all His Holy Church.

Amen.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight
in these Paschal Mysteries, so that the renewal
constantly at work within us
may be the cause of unending joy.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim You, O Lord,
but above all to laud You yet more gloriously
when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

For He is the true Lamb who has taken away
the sins of the world.
By dying, He destroyed our death;
by rising, He restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with Paschal joy,
together we sing Your hymn of praise:

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of Hosts, ∫
∫ Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the font of all holiness.

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us the Body and Blood
of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed
and entered into His Passion,
He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
for this is My Body,
which will be given up for you.”

When supper was ended, He took the chalice,
and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
for this is the chalice of My Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant,
which will be poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of Me.”

The Mystery of Faith.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His Life,
Death, and Resurrection,
we offer You, Lord, the Bread of Life
and the chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that You have held us worthy
to be in Your presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Leo, our Pope, Blase, our Bishop,
the bishops, clergy, religious brothers and sisters,
and all who serve in Your faith communities.

Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection,
and all who have died in Your mercy.

Remember in a very special way
all the deceased loved ones who have gone home to God.
Welcome them into the light of Your face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

Blessed Joseph, her spouse, the Blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased You throughout the ages,
that we may be co-heirs to eternal life
and may praise and glorify You
through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Him, and with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

With confidence, faith, and joy, as God’s family,
we then together pray:

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil;
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of Your mercy,
we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,
as we await the Blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours,
now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you,”
look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with Your will.

Who live and reign forever and ever,

Amen.

May the peace of the Lord be with all of you.

And with your spirit.

Let us share the Lord’s peace and joy with those around us.

For those who are praying at home,
maybe in a nursing facility or a hospital,
from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
to each and every one of you,
God’s blessings, peace, and the Lord’s joy.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ grant us peace. ∫

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

For those of you at home,
please turn to page six in our TV Mass guide
and join in singing our Communion song,
“The Love of the Lord.”

∫ All that I counted as gain ∫
∫ now I consider as loss, ∫
∫ empty and worthless to me ∫

∫ Is the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫
∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

∫ Riches and honors will fade, ∫
∫ earthly delight disappear, ∫
∫ fade like the grass of the field ∫
∫ in the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫

∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

And together we pray the prayer
of the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect,
and bless all boys and girls
who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy,
as we offer them our hearts,
in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

And may they see God’s mercy in action
through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

And together, let us pray:

Look upon Your flock, Kind Shepherd,
and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures
the sheep You have redeemed
by the Precious Blood of Your Son.

Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

And may the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
descend upon all of us forever and ever.

Amen.

Our celebration has ended.
Our Easter Season continues.
We go in peace.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lord, You give a great commission: ∫
∫ “Heal the sick and preach the Word.” ∫
∫ Lest the Church neglect its mission ∫
∫ and the Gospel go unheard, ∫
∫ help us witness to Your purpose ∫
∫ with renewed integrity; ∫
∫ with the Spirit’s gifts empower us… ∫

My friends, I just want to thank you
for the ways in which you support the TV Mass
here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Let us continue to pray for one another.
Please consider making an offering
so that we can keep the TV Mass on the air.

May God bless you, your family members, and your friends.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated,
and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

 

∫ [Piano Music] ∫
The following presentation is made possible
by the generosity of the viewers
of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
to Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Adrienne Walsh,
and our celebrant is Father Greg Sakowitz.

∫ The King of Love My Shepherd Is, ∫
∫ Whose goodness fails me never, ∫
∫ I’m nothing lack if I am His, ∫
∫ And He is mine forever. ∫

Good morning and welcome as we continue our Easter Season
and begin in the name of the Father
and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Our God is loving, compassionate, and always forgiving.
We are sinners who take a moment of silence
and ask forgiveness and the Lord’s mercy.

Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you nourish us with the gifts of the Holy Eucharist.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

As God’s forgiven family, we sing praise to our God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫
∫ Glory to God in the highest ∫
∫ and on earth peace to people of good will. ∫

And together let us pray for the grace
to follow Christ more closely.

Loving and compassionate God, lead us to a share
in the joys of Heaven so that the humble flock
may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice and proclaimed, “Let the whole house of Israel
know for certain that God has made
both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart
and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments
and was exhorting them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about 3,000 persons were added that day.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫
∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

∫ Fresh and green are the pastures ∫
∫ where He gives me repose. ∫
∫ Near restful waters He leads me; ∫
∫ He revives my soul. ∫

∫ The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. ∫

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter.

Beloved, if you are patient when you suffer
for doing what is good, this is grace before God.

For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example
that you should follow in His footsteps.

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.
When He was insulted, He returned no insult.

When He suffered, He did not threaten.
Instead, He handed Himself over to the One who judges justly.

He Himself bore our sins in His Body upon the Cross
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.

By His wounds you have been healed,
for you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now
returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

∫ I am the Good Shepherd, says the Lord; ∫
∫ I know My sheep and Mine know Me. ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to You, O Lord.

And Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate,
but climbs over elsewhere, is a thief and a robber.

Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him,
and the sheep hear his voice.

As the shepherd calls his own sheep by name,
he leads them out.
When he has driven out all of his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of a stranger.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize
what He was trying to tell them.

So Jesus again said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.”

Whoever enters through Me will be saved.
He will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy.
I came so they might have life
and have it more abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

One stormy night at sea,
the ship’s captain saw what looked like
the lights of another ship heading right toward him.

He immediately had his signalman blink in Morse code
to the oncoming ship, “Change your course 10 degrees south.”

The reply came back in Morse code,
“Change your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain responded, “I am a captain.
Change your course south.”

To his reply was, “I’m a seaman first class.
Change your course north.”

The captain, angry, signaled back and said,
“I said, change your course south.
I’m standing on a battleship.”

Which came in the reply of Morse code:
“I said, change your course north.
I’m standing in a lighthouse.”

[Laughter]

I really liked that joke.

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own darkness
or wanting things our own way,
we don’t see what is around us or the light around us.
We only see what we want to see.

We dismiss Jesus’ teaching as being too unrealistic
or way too simplistic to deal with the complexities
of our problems in life today.

But it’s in such simple values—
like love for one another,
forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and justice—
that we will discover the light of God
to guide us through the darkness.

To have life, to have it to the full,
demands that we are journeying by the way of Christ.

Jesus is our Light.

Jesus is our Life.

I was ordained to the Priesthood almost 47 years ago,
on May 9, 1979, to be exact.

I thank God every day for His gift of Priesthood
and the gift of each and every one of you.

There have been, over these 47 years,
much tremendous joy,
but also, at times, very hard times.

I’ve learned many things over the last 47 years,
and much more I still need to learn.

But I’d like to share five things
that have captured these last 47 years in Priesthood.

Number one: sickness and serious surgery
require a complete letting go, especially of one’s work,
and surrendering in total trust and faith in God.

This is easy to say in good times and times of health,
and truly tested when surgery awaits us.

Secondly: treat everyone with dignity, respect,
a forgiving heart, compassion, love, and mercy,
and see life through their eyes—
see life through someone else’s eyes.

And by the way, the word “compassion,”
from the Greek, means “to suffer with.”
If you are a compassionate person,
you have the ability to suffer with an individual, to walk with them.

Thirdly: always keep a good sense of humor.
It takes 14 muscles to smile and 72 muscles to frown—
and that’s a fact.

Number four: commitment is hard work.
Rooted in the Lord,
things have a way of working out.

And lastly: an unforgiving heart—
grudges and bitterness can own us,
causing unhappiness and weighing us down.

I’ve said this before: as we grow older,
is life making me better or bitter?
As I’m growing older, is life making me better or bitter?

And the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that a well-made choice
is no guarantee against hard times.

It’s perhaps only in such times
we hear the invitation to enter into the emptiness
which God alone can fill.

As we go forward in faith and in prayer, remember this:
I shall pass this world but once.
Any good that I can do,
any kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.

And together, as God’s family, we profess our faith:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became Man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and His Kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins,
and I look forward to the Resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

With confidence, faith, and joy,
we bring the Lord our needs, our prayers, our very lives.

Our response to each prayer will be:
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy,
may they be strengthened to care for their flock,
as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has shown them.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer and live in darkness,
may Christ’s Resurrection bring light, peace,
and hope into their lives.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the children of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
may this Easter Season fill their hearts
with the light of our Risen Lord.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the end of wars and violence
against all people throughout the world.
We pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving and gracious God, we ask You to hear our prayers,
those voiced, and all our needs and prayers known to You,
found deep within our hearts.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫
∫ [Piano Music continues] ∫

And pray, my sisters and brothers,
that our sacrifice be acceptable to God,
the Father Almighty.

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of His Name,
for our good and the good of all His Holy Church.

Amen.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight
in these Paschal Mysteries, so that the renewal
constantly at work within us
may be the cause of unending joy.

Always through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim You, O Lord,
but above all to laud You yet more gloriously
when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

For He is the true Lamb who has taken away
the sins of the world.
By dying, He destroyed our death;
by rising, He restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with Paschal joy,
together we sing Your hymn of praise:

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, ∫
∫ Lord God of Hosts, ∫
∫ Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, ∫
∫ Hosanna in the highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the font of all holiness.

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us the Body and Blood
of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed
and entered into His Passion,
He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
for this is My Body,
which will be given up for you.”

When supper was ended, He took the chalice,
and once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
for this is the chalice of My Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant,
which will be poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of Me.”

The Mystery of Faith.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, ∫
∫ we proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ until You come again. ∫

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His Life,
Death, and Resurrection,
we offer You, Lord, the Bread of Life
and the chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that You have held us worthy
to be in Your presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Leo, our Pope, Blase, our Bishop,
the bishops, clergy, religious brothers and sisters,
and all who serve in Your faith communities.

Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection,
and all who have died in Your mercy.

Remember in a very special way
all the deceased loved ones who have gone home to God.
Welcome them into the light of Your face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

Blessed Joseph, her spouse, the Blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased You throughout the ages,
that we may be co-heirs to eternal life
and may praise and glorify You
through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Him, and with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Amen, amen, amen. ∫

With confidence, faith, and joy, as God’s family,
we then together pray:

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil;
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of Your mercy,
we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,
as we await the Blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours,
now and forever.

And Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you,”
look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with Your will.

Who live and reign forever and ever,

Amen.

May the peace of the Lord be with all of you.

And with your spirit.

Let us share the Lord’s peace and joy with those around us.

For those who are praying at home,
maybe in a nursing facility or a hospital,
from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
to each and every one of you,
God’s blessings, peace, and the Lord’s joy.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world, ∫
∫ grant us peace. ∫

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

For those of you at home,
please turn to page six in our TV Mass guide
and join in singing our Communion song,
“The Love of the Lord.”

∫ All that I counted as gain ∫
∫ now I consider as loss, ∫
∫ empty and worthless to me ∫

∫ Is the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫
∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

∫ Riches and honors will fade, ∫
∫ earthly delight disappear, ∫
∫ fade like the grass of the field ∫
∫ in the Light of the love of the Lord. ∫

∫ What more could bring us hope ∫
∫ than to know the power of His Life? ∫
∫ What more could bring us peace ∫
∫ than to share in His suffering and death? ∫
∫ What more could be our final wish ∫
∫ than to live in the love of the Lord? ∫

And together we pray the prayer
of the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide, protect,
and bless all boys and girls
who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy,
as we offer them our hearts,
in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

And may they see God’s mercy in action
through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

And together, let us pray:

Look upon Your flock, Kind Shepherd,
and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures
the sheep You have redeemed
by the Precious Blood of Your Son.

Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

And may the blessing of Almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
descend upon all of us forever and ever.

Amen.

Our celebration has ended.
Our Easter Season continues.
We go in peace.

Thanks be to God.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

∫ Lord, You give a great commission: ∫
∫ “Heal the sick and preach the Word.” ∫
∫ Lest the Church neglect its mission ∫
∫ and the Gospel go unheard, ∫
∫ help us witness to Your purpose ∫
∫ with renewed integrity; ∫
∫ with the Spirit’s gifts empower us… ∫

My friends, I just want to thank you
for the ways in which you support the TV Mass
here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Let us continue to pray for one another.
Please consider making an offering
so that we can keep the TV Mass on the air.

May God bless you, your family members, and your friends.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
is generously provided by GIA Publications, Incorporated,
and its World Library Publications division.

∫ [Piano Music] ∫

 

One stormy night at sea,
the ship’s captain saw what looked like
the lights of another ship heading right toward him.

He immediately had his signalman blink in Morse code
to the oncoming ship, “Change your course 10 degrees south.”

The reply came back in Morse code,
“Change your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain responded, “I am a captain.
Change your course south.”

To his reply was, “I’m a seaman first class.
Change your course north.”

The captain, angry, signaled back and said,
“I said, change your course south.
I’m standing on a battleship.”

Which came in the reply of Morse code:
“I said, change your course north.
I’m standing in a lighthouse.”

[Laughter]

I really liked that joke.

Sometimes we are so caught up in our own darkness
or wanting things our own way,
we don’t see what is around us or the light around us.
We only see what we want to see.

We dismiss Jesus’ teaching as being too unrealistic
or way too simplistic to deal with the complexities
of our problems in life today.

But it’s in such simple values—
like love for one another,
forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and justice—
that we will discover the light of God
to guide us through the darkness.

To have life, to have it to the full,
demands that we are journeying by the way of Christ.

Jesus is our Light.

Jesus is our Life.

I was ordained to the Priesthood almost 47 years ago,
on May 9, 1979, to be exact.

I thank God every day for His gift of Priesthood
and the gift of each and every one of you.

There have been, over these 47 years,
much tremendous joy,
but also, at times, very hard times.

I’ve learned many things over the last 47 years,
and much more I still need to learn.

But I’d like to share five things
that have captured these last 47 years in Priesthood.

Number one: sickness and serious surgery
require a complete letting go, especially of one’s work,
and surrendering in total trust and faith in God.

This is easy to say in good times and times of health,
and truly tested when surgery awaits us.

Secondly: treat everyone with dignity, respect,
a forgiving heart, compassion, love, and mercy,
and see life through their eyes—
see life through someone else’s eyes.

And by the way, the word “compassion,”
from the Greek, means “to suffer with.”
If you are a compassionate person,
you have the ability to suffer with an individual, to walk with them.

Thirdly: always keep a good sense of humor.
It takes 14 muscles to smile and 72 muscles to frown—
and that’s a fact.

Number four: commitment is hard work.
Rooted in the Lord,
things have a way of working out.

And lastly: an unforgiving heart—
grudges and bitterness can own us,
causing unhappiness and weighing us down.

I’ve said this before: as we grow older,
is life making me better or bitter?
As I’m growing older, is life making me better or bitter?

And the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that a well-made choice
is no guarantee against hard times.

It’s perhaps only in such times
we hear the invitation to enter into the emptiness
which God alone can fill.

As we go forward in faith and in prayer, remember this:
I shall pass this world but once.
Any good that I can do,
any kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.