Padre’s Points to Ponder – April 4, 2025
Dear All Saints brothers and sisters,
As of this Sunday, Passiontide has begun. We are well past the halfway mark of our Lenten journey, and things are getting serious as we draw ever closer to the celebration of our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection.
First, what is Passiontide? Passiontide refers to the distinct time within Lent where we focus more intensely on the suffering Our Lord took on for us. You’ll note that the statues and images around the church are covered or darkened to highlight the somberness and simplicity of this sacred time. Next Sunday will be Palm Sunday, where we will enter into the narrative of our Lord’s passion and death.
Now for the first HUGE announcement: This Sunday is also significant for our parish personally, as it gives us a time to celebrate with our own Deacon Alan Sims as he is about to enter into his very well-earned retirement. Dcn. Alan was ordained in 2013 for the diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, but found his way to Atlanta and here to All Saints, where he has faithfully served in faith formation, baptismal preparation, funerals, weddings, parish life, not to mention his dedicated service at the altar of our Lord Jesus. Dcn. Alan, thank you for saying yes to the Lord to serve His Bride the Church as a deacon! Friends, please join me in thanking him with a special coffee and donuts after the 8am and 10:30am Masses this weekend. A box will be in the narthex for anyone who would like to write him a note or give a card of well-wishes and blessings.
The second HUGE announcement is that next Saturday evening, April 12 from 6:30-8pm we are blessed to host a one-night Lenten Mission with the Sisters of Life from New York City on Love is the Answer: Unleashing the Profound Meaning of Your Life! You will not want to miss this evening of inspiration and prayer!
I hope and pray that regardless of how the first few weeks of lent have gone, these final weeks come with many 11th-hour graces. Keep the faith!
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor