April 4 - Veneration of the Cross The Kingdom of God comes only through the Cross and through suffering. The Cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)

April 11 - St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) Abbot of St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) and author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. In this work, St. John outlines the steps essential for attaining communion with God - steps which remind us that the way to the Kingdom constantly requires enormous effort for entrance into God’s Kingdom.

April 18 - Saint Mary of Egypt A repentant harlot, Mary tells us, that no amount of sin and wickedness can keep a person from God if he truly repents. St. Mary recognized her sinfulness and sought to bring about an essential change in her life. She ran from her sinfulness and devoted the remainder of her life to placing God’s will above her own.

April 25 – Palm Sunday – The Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem All His life, our Lord suffered for the salvation of men. He was born in poverty. Herod asked for His life. He never knew any economic security; others provided for Him out of their means. (Luke 8). He was without a home, for “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9). He who loved all was hated and persecuted by many. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. When He was entering Jerusalem, He wept; “when He dew near and saw the city, He wept over it saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you….because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41). The destruction of of Jerusalem that Jesus foretells would occur in AD 70. This also describes the spiritual end of every person who lacks faith. But it is not too late because, as noted in the Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, “If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of His honor, will accept the last even as the first; He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.”

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating in the month of April: among those, Happy Birthday to David Baron, on April 5; Michael Chaykivsky on April 22 and Helen Margitich on April 23. May God grant each of you Many Years!

Remember our needy neighbors. The Food Pantry is always in need of food items. Please keep those less fortunate in mind and help us to feed those in need. A basket is in the vestibule of the church for your convenience. Helen Baron, our food basket coordinator, thanks you and May God bless you abundantly for your generosity.

The 64th Camp Season of St. Andrew's Camp which boasts 5 weeks in the beautiful outdoors on Lake Oneida, New York, will be opening this summer. Go to Diocese website: https://nynjoca.org/news_210330-1 to register your child for a summer of fun!