Dear Fellow Parishioners:

If you want to be part of a great sign of hope and vitality for Saint Ambrose Parish, be in the church at 7:30 on Saturday the 30^th of March. The church will be full for the Easter Vigil as over 24 people will receive sacraments for the first time. The Easter Vigil is so special because in addition to it being the first celebration of the Risen Lord, we celebrate three sacraments in one—Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. Through the sacraments, we adults and children become our sisters and brothers in Jesus and members of the same parish family.

While so many other mainline churches are losing membership precipitously, the Catholic Church continues to grow each year. The growth comes mainly from immigration and by adults who make an informed conscious decision to become a member of the church. People over the age of seven who wish to become Catholic spend nearly a year meeting in a group to pray, study scripture, learn doctrine and come to know the Catholic way of life. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

The people who enter the church through the RCIA are truly a blessing to us. They come with their life experiences and with a deep desire to be Catholic, which adds richness to the life of our community. They also tend to have a different understanding of the faith than cradle Catholics who receive most of their religious education as children. Please pray for them at this momentous point in their lives.

Your brother,
Fr. Kevin C. Kennedy