Dear Good People of St. Mary,

Happy Easter to you all. And welcome.

You know, I write a letter to you every week, in each bulletin. But this weekend I want to write something so special, to offer you something you couldn’t possibly refuse, because this weekend we have the chance to do everything perfectly right to let the hand of God touch us like he never has before—and change our lives. The longer I am a priest, the more I realize that I need to search for the perfect words to constantly reawaken our faith and renew our commitment to this God who has given everything to us.

I know, however, that we aren’t perfect, and maybe won’t be able to make everything perfect, but this weekend we’ll do the best we can to help God’s perfect love shine through our St. Mary community of faith. For you.

You might think I’m speaking to those of you who aren’t with us most of the year, as sometimes happens, but it’s not only those who are only here on Easter that I am speaking to. It is true that we have witnessed again this year so many who have come back to the Church maybe after dozens of years. I am deeply moved when I hear people say, “I know I could be better. I really need to know God more; I have slipped away and have realized that I want to do what is necessary to come home.” I think these simple truths lie at the heart of all of our lives, and every once in a while they come into sharp focus and we realize that it is time to do something about them. If we’re listening.

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Article by Dan Telvock for The Free Lance Star:

The Rev. Donald Rooney was worried all week as Easter Sunday approached.

The popular Easter Mass yesterday for the 14,000 members of St. Mary Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception was an experiment.

After years of standing-room only Easter Masses, Rooney decided to change the venue to a location without stained-glass windows, an array of flowers or paintings of Jesus.

He was worried the membership might not show up.

But when the doors opened at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center, Rooney could hardly believe the sight: Several thousand people entered the circle-shaped room.

“This is a phenomenon,” said Moonyeah Jones, as she glanced around the cavernous space filled with more than 3,500 chairs.

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