Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The traditional Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord or what we call Ascension Thursday is 40 days after Easter Sunday, which is Thursday in the sixth week of Easter. The Ascension of the Lord celebrates the event described in Acts when Jesus appeared to his disciples numerous times for 40 days before ascending to heaven from the top of the Mount of Olives.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Continued Easter blessings to all of you! We thank God as well for the warm spring weather and life-giving rains for the crops in northwest Iowa. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. The Gospel reading for today relates how the Risen Lord appears to his disciples with instructions to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” They were sent to evangelize and baptize.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Easter season continues: Christ is risen, indeed he is risen. Happy Easter! The 50-day Easter season ends May 19 with the Feast of Pentecost as we commemorate the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles, sending them forth to share the good news of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.