Alleluia!

This is the day you have made for us, risen Lord,

a day of happiness and joy!

We pray to you, Lord:

make each day that you give us the most beautiful day of our lives,

because it is the day you have chosen for us to encounter you,

O risen Christ!

Thomas Merton

Happy Easter! I marvel at the glory of God! The past few weeks (Holy Week and the Octave of Easter, last week...) have truly been a blessing.

The Triduum, although the shortest liturgical season of the year, is full of overwhelmingly meaningful symbolism and sacramental practices. On Holy Thursday our community celebrated with the novitiate community of our Marianist brothers. We began with a celebratory meal (complete with lamb) and some time of socializing. Then we had a beautiful liturgy with the washing of the feet and exposition. Good Friday many of our sisters went downtown for the annual Walk for Justice - walking in the city praying the Stations of the Cross at various locations that represent certain injustices. I didn't go this year. It was rainy and cold and I had a terrible sore throat that morning. At 3pm most of us went to UD for the Good Friday services. What an absolutely moving liturgy. Holy Saturday we participated in the Vigil at UD... where two people were baptized by full immersion and two additional people were fully received into the Catholic Church... What a joy to witness!

Since that weekend, the beginning of 50 days of unbounded joy, life has been full, but true to the Easter season.

I spent this past weekend in south Florida for planning meetings for the Marianist LIFE South program which will take place in the summer. We worked very hard, but we also had the opportunity to visit with LIFE-connected folks in the area, pray, and relax together. Hollywood Florida was beautiful... palm trees, cool breezes, warm sun... It's easy for my heart to sing, "The Heavens are telling the glory of God!"

This morning... I awoke to a rising sun and singing birds. My winter clothes are put away now and spring has really begun in Dayton, OH - ALLELUIA!

The semester is also drawing to a close. Students are taking finals this week and graduation is this weekend. It's hard to believe that the academic year is pretty much over. It's bittersweet as it always is. I look forward to next year, but I will certainly miss those students who are graduating and moving on. That includes my very skilled and helpful graduate assistant. I don't know what I would have done without him! But, he will move on to a professional job in ministry for which he is extremely qualified. My new G.A. and I will have lunch this month to start planning for next year. "Time marches on. Time marches on."

Well, I'm off to start this beautiful Monday morning!

Many Easter blessings to all who read this,

Sr. N