All Saints Parish

Prayers for Our Director of Pastoral Care

     As some of you are already aware, Sue Cadwallader, our director of pastoral care, suffered a stroke a few weeks ago. She is currently at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for rehabilitation, which includes both physical and occupational therapy.

     Please keep her in your prayers, and consider sending a card filled with well wishes to:

Sue Cadwallader, Room 7062
Forbes Hospital
2570 Haymaker Road
Monroeville, PA 15146

    Regarding pastoral care ministry in Butler (and the other responsibilities that Sue handled), we will do our best to fill the gaps with current staff members and volunteers until we have a better idea about Sue’s timeline for returning to serve our community.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kevin C. Fazio

For more bulletin messages from our pastor, Father Kevin Fazio, click here.

Our Resurrected and Ascended Savior

Dear Friends in Christ,

     This week we celebrate Ascension Thursday ‒ a Holy Day of Obligation and a crucial event in salvation history. In Philippians 2:7, St. Paul writes about the Incarnation, the remarkable moment Jesus came from heaven to earth, “Rather he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness.” Jesus, second person of the Blessed Trinity, becomes one of us in all things but sin. Jesus does this so he can fulfill the Father’s plan, and lift earth to heaven.

    On Good Friday, Jesus, the Lamb of God, offered himself on the Cross as the one perfect sacrifice. In this singular act of love, Jesus fulfilled all the Temple sacrifices that had been going on for centuries. No longer would the blood of oxen, sheep, doves, etc., be offered. Even the Temple itself, center of Jewish life and worship, and the only place sacrifice could be offered, would be destroyed by the Romans in the year 70. 

     Easter Sunday is the great day of victory. By his resurrection, Jesus broke the bonds of death, opened the gates of heaven, and truly showed he is the Resurrection and the Life. The Ascension is the climax and fulfillment of these remarkable events. 

     St. Luke describes the Ascension in the Acts of the Apostles, ”When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” (1:9) When we come together for Mass on Sunday or another Solemnity, we pray the Nicene Creed, which states, “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

     We can imagine the Apostles feeling a sense of loss as they watched Jesus being taken from their sight. Yet, they understood, as we understand, the Ascension is an important part of God’s plan. While Jesus walked the earth he was limited by his humanity. He certainly had the power to work miracles, but Jesus lived his life in one very small part of the world. At the time of the Ascension, a tiny fraction of people knew Jesus even existed. Yet, Jesus is a universal Savior, with all people being invited to share in his Kingdom. 

     After the Ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, history would change. Jesus taking his seat at the right hand of the Father represents power and authority. From his place in heaven, Jesus would direct the Church to bring his good news to all people of all places. Jesus is not a distant figure disconnected from history, but an active participant. Jesus is the head of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, and the Church would fulfill the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations … and know I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.

     Similarly, the age of Temple sacrifice would come to an end, but the age of representing and remembering the perfect sacrifice of Jesus was just beginning. Because Jesus is in heaven, he is not bound by time or space. This allows Jesus to be present on every altar all over the world. At the Last Supper Jesus told the Apostles to “do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19. This is the beauty of the Mass! Because of the Ascension, Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist ‒ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. 

     Let us celebrate our Resurrected and Ascended Savior who has been taken from our sight, but is closer to us than we can imagine.

     Thanks be to God! 

For bulletin messages from our clergy and staff, click here.

For more bulletin messages from our pastor, Father Kevin Fazio, click here.