Sunday, April 5th 2026

Dear Faithful Members of Pope St. John XXIII Parish,

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” (Psalm 118:24)

Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Blessed Easter! The Lord is truly risen—let us rejoice and be glad!

During the Triduum of Holy Week, we once again experienced the profound and heartwarming moments of our faith, reliving the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord. These celebrations strengthen and renew our spiritual journey toward our eternal home, reflecting on His sacrifices throughout Lent and the Holy Week. It was wonderful to see our church filled for the liturgies, with hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit’s presence and blessings. Let us continue to cherish these holy celebrations in the days ahead.

A highlight of this season was welcoming new members into our faith community through the sacraments of Christian initiation. This was made possible through the dedication and hard work of many parish volunteers. Special thanks go to our Faith Formation core team under the guidance of Sr. Theresa, who prepared the candidates throughout the year, and to the Confirmation Class students for their prayerful retreat and preparation. We also extend our gratitude to the Liturgy Committee for organizing the celebrations flawlessly, and to our choir members, whose music filled our worship with spirit and joy.

Congratulations to all children who received Baptism this Easter! We thank Deacon Theman for instructing parents and godparents on their responsibilities in nurturing their children in the Catholic faith.

During Lent, our parish hosted several activities led by various groups and ministries, all aimed at reaching out to and serving every member of our community. We were blessed to celebrate a Healing and Anointing Mass for our seniors before Holy Week. Heartfelt thanks to our Homebound Ministers for organizing the Senior Luncheons and visiting homes to bring communion. Sister Anna and her core team coordinated this event to foster parish fellowship, while our Pre-K students delighted everyone with joyful songs. We also extend our gratitude to the team leaders of Bunny Bingo Night—your food donations and funds will benefit the Ministry of the Poor Food Bank.

Thank you for supporting Pope Saint John XXIII STEM Academy’s School Auction. We extend our gratitude to the principal, teachers, parents, and all guests who made this event a great success. Thank you also for joining the Senior Luncheon on Wednesday at the Saint John of the Woods Campus. Please note that the Senior Luncheon will pause at the end of April and resume in September. We are especially grateful for the completion of the Volleyball Yard at the PSJ Main Campus—thank you to all the volunteers for your time, talents, and generous donations. We are truly blessed to offer a variety of programs, including support for our sports teams, the Vietnamese Vovinam School, and many other activities—all made possible by the dedication of our wonderful volunteer team.

Our volunteers also worked tirelessly to prepare the church, hall, and surroundings for these celebrations. Special thanks to our custodian for ensuring our buildings were ready and welcoming, and a gentle reminder to help our children care for the church, keeping pews and spaces clean.

We warmly welcome all visitors to our parish. We extend our gratitude to the two seminarians who assisted at the altar during Holy Week and the Triduum—please keep them in your prayers during their vacations. Let us also remember in prayer the sick, the homebound, and all who suffer physically or spiritually. We pray for families who have recently lost a beloved member. Additionally, we thank everyone who attended Fr. Vaiula’s Funeral Mass.

Thank you all for your love, care, and generosity. Because of your commitment and sacrifice, we are able to achieve so much for our parish. May the Risen Christ continue to bless you and your family abundantly this Easter season!

Sincerely, Yours in Christ,

Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min

Pastor