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This Easter, I have seen that peace made visible in a very real and powerful way here at Christ the King – St. Stephen Parish. Our parish is hosting several families through the Winter Nights program in our Gym, offering shelter, safety, and dignity to those experiencing homelessness. What a beautiful sign of hope this is—not just something we speak about, but something we live.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Winter Nights Leadership team, the many ministries, volunteers, and families who are accompanying our guests with such generosity and care. Your acts of love are many and meaningful—providing nourishing meals, sharing fellowship, supporting children with tuition and encouragement, organizing games, and creating activities that foster joy, peace, and a sense of belonging.
You are not simply offering services—you are building relationships. You are restoring dignity. You are creating moments where laughter replaces anxiety, where children feel safe, and where hope quietly begins again. You are truly honoring the Risen Christ.
In a special way, we are reminded that care for the poor is not optional in the Christian life. As Pope Leo XIV has emphasized, caring for the homeless and the poor is a cornerstone of the Church’s mission—not merely an act of charity, but a non-negotiable expression of our faith. Rooted in God’s “preferential option for the poor,” we are called not only to serve, but to seek justice, to lift burdens, and to ensure that the dignity of every person is protected.
This call echoes the great cry of the Old Testament, the rallying voice of liberation in the Book of Exodus: “Let my people go.” It is the cry of a God who sees suffering, hears the oppressed, and acts. In our own time, that cry continues—in the lives of those who seek shelter, dignity, and a chance to begin again. And we, as Easter people, are called to be part of God’s answer.
Easter faith is not only about the empty tomb—it is about hearts made full:
· Full of compassion instead of indifference,
· Full of generosity instead of fear,
· Full of hope instead of despair.
To each one of you who is part of this mission—thank you. You are living witnesses to the Resurrection. Let us continue to be a parish that does not close its doors, but opens them wider. Let us be a community where the Risen Christ is not only proclaimed—but encountered.
Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen! Alleluia!
~Fr. Paulson
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