By Fr. Justin Fulton
Recently, I had a chance to speak with Veronica Hotovy, an employee at St. Gianna Women’s Homes. Veronica is a talented young woman, filled with faith and energy.
She hails from Butler County, is an Aquinas Catholic graduate, and a graduate of Concordia University. She is a Resident Care Advocate for the women and children of St. Gianna’s. She helps put these women and kids on a path to self-sustainability and success. She helps instruct them with financial literacy classes, gives them confidence, and gives them community supports and expertise so that they can get out of the cycle of abuse.
Veronica shared a story of a resident at St. Gianna’s. This resident is a baptized Catholic, but she did not feel worthy of being in God’s presence in the chapel at St. Gianna’s. She would be scared to go into the chapel to pray and develop a relationship with our Lord. She felt she was not worthy of love. She felt she was not worthy of God’s love. She had no confidence in herself and she had no idea how God personally cared for her and loved her.
However, Easter happened and things started to change. After Easter, this woman felt a desire to come to the chapel to be with God. She started praying more. And in turn she started to see things change in her life. She became more confident. She visits the chapel daily now and feels God’s love in her heart. God is working in wonderful ways in her life. She realizes she is a child of God. She is being healed by His love.
Easter makes everything new. Easter changes lives. Easter gives Eternal Life.
After the Resurrection and pretty much taking care of everything that we would ever have to worry about (sin and death), some of Jesus’ first words as accounted from the daily readings at Mass during the Easter Octave are important to pray over. (Keep in mind that the first words one says to another are typically pretty important. Think of the first words one would say to their child as they hold their child for the first time.) Well, anyway, some of Jesus’ first words as He appears to His believers:
Easter Monday: “Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 28:10)
Easter Tuesday: “Why are you weeping?” (John 20:15)
Easter Thursday: “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36)
Few words. No worries. Fodder for a lifetime of peace.
We are proud of living the Gospel out in action at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. We are proud of the young woman in our care finding the love of Jesus in His presence in the Holy Eucharist. After all of these years Easter still changes lives and makes everything new!
Thank you for your prayers and support of CSS. May we live Easter Joy every day! God bless you.
