Dear Parishioners,

Today the Church celebrates the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. Christ’s glorious Ascension signified the completion of his time on earth.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus' humanity into God's heavenly domain, from where he will come again. Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him forever. Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is the important, final part of the paschal mystery, which began with Christ's passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of His mystical Body, the Church, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection. On this solemnity, we are also reminded of our evangelizing mission. Before Christ ascends, he gives his disciples final instructions, telling them to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit and then "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).