eConnections - April 5, 2026
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eConnections
The Weekend of the Sunday of the Resurrection:
Easter Sunday
(Year A, Easter)
April 5, 2026
The Dean's List
The Great Vigil of Easter
The Great Vigil of Easter is the principal service of the Christian year (which is not the same thing as best attended). From ancient times, the Vigil was the service at which salvation history was retold through Scripture, converts to the faith (catechumens) were baptized, and the joyful resurrection of Jesus proclaimed.
Since the pandemic, we have been celebrating the Vigil with local Episcopal churches in South Bend, Mishawaka, and Niles. Tonight we will gather at St. Michael & All Angels Church on North Ironwood Drive at 8:30 pm to light the New Fire and celebrate our risen Lord. Bishop Doug Sparks will preside and Mtr. Jen Fulton will preach.
The Easter Feast follows the Vigil. Cathedral members & friends are invited to bring fruits and vegetables to share.
Easter Sunday
As a kindness to all those whose ministries kept them out late at the Vigil the night before, the Cathedral has only one service on Easter Sunday: a Festal Easter Eucharist at 10:00 am. All are invited to sing the great Easter hymns, renew their Baptismal vows, and share in the Good News of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
Children are invited to decorate baskets during (see below). An Easter egg hunt will follow the service in the Butterfly Garden or Cathedral Hall, depending on the weather.
Swieconka (sh-vee-en-soon-kah)
Swieconka is an enduring and beloved Polish tradition in which baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan). A priest offers a three-part blessing for the traditional foods in the basket: sausaged, eggs, and baked goods. We’re improvising a little. While Swieconka normally occurs on Holy Saturday, we are incorporating it into our Easter Sunday celebration as a special Easter Sunday activity for children. Lisa & Mike Jaworski are providing a large basket as an example, and Catherine Craker, Tamisyn Grantz, Patty Hans, & Fr. Mark Hummell are working together to fill up the kids’ version.
The Bishop's Visitation
Bishop Doug Sparks will make his official visitation to the Cathedral of Saint James on Sunday, April 12. The Bishop will preach and preside at both services - receiving Adam Bosler into the Episcopal fold at the 10:30 service - and he and I will lead the Adult Forum at 9:15 am to discuss transition in the Diocese of Northern Indiana (and whatever else is on your mind). Please join us for this celebration!
Easter Ministry Schedule
Please, please, please check the ministry schedule below to make sure you are available to any assigned ministries. And please, please, please volunteer to cover any substitute requests generated by Ministry Scheduler Pro for which you are available.
Steven Wietstock's 20th Anniversary
Steve Wietstock begin his ministry at the Cathedral of Saint James during Holy Week in 2006. We will celebrate two decades of Steve's life, love, and labors on behalf of the Cathedral community during the month of April. If you would like to contribute to a purse to help him celebrate the occasion, that would be wonderful! You can donate using the Givelify app or by sending a check to Steven Mast at the Cathedral.
Donate here.
Cathedral Receives Gift from NDFCU
Notre Dame Federal Credit Union presented the Cathedral of Saint James with a $2,500 gift this past Tuesday in thanksgiving for being a loyal NDFCU customer. What an amazing blessing! The funds will go to the Clergy Discretionary Fund for our continued Assistance Ministry.
We will have an NDFCU representative come back soon to tell us about how Cathedral members & friends can support the Cathedral through their ELEVATE program.
Out of the Office
Dean Brian Grantz is out of the office this coming week from Tuesday through Friday. Canon Tina Velthuizen will preach and preside at the Friday Noon Eucharist.
Joe Anand-Obleton is out of the office this coming week from Tuesday through Thursday, returning to the office of Friday.
Blessings,
Brian
Easter Worship
Easter Ministry Schedule
Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday
10:00 am
Readers Celeste Hilliard & Steven Mast
Eucharistic Ministers Bunmi Banjo, Steven Mast
Ushers Mike McCrea, Erica Vitale
Acolytes Jack Laney, Kirk Philippsen, Matthew Worns
Hospitality Cindy Laney
Linens Deborah Drendall
Sacristan Cindy Foley
Tuesday, April 7
Counters Rick Hilliard & Dave Woods
Friday, April 10
Folder Gay McCrea
Formation & Spirituality
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, April 4: Easter Eve
8:30 pm
The Great Vigil of Easter
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
The Rt. Rev. Doug Sparks, presiding
The Rev. Jen Fulton, preaching
Following the Vigil
The Easter Feast
Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday
Year A: The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday
10:00 am
Festal Easter Eucharist
11:15 am
Easter Egg Hunt
Hospitality
Monday, April 6 Monday in Easter Week
Cathedral Office: Closed
6:00 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, April 7 Tuesday in Easter Week
Cathedral Office Hours: By Appointment
Canon Joe Anand-Obleton out of the office
Dean Brian Grantz out of the office
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, April 8 Wednesday in Easter Wee
Cathedral Office Hours: By Appointment
Canon Joe Anand-Obleton out of the office
Dean Brian Grantz out of the office
7:00 pm
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, April 9 Thursday in Easter Week
Cathedral Office Hours: By Appointment
Canon Joe Anand-Obleton out of the office
Dean Brian Grantz out of the office
No Events Scheduled
Friday, April 10 Friday in Easter Week
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Dean Brian Grantz out of the office
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
12:45 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, April 11 Saturday in Easter Week
No Events Scheduled
Saturday, April 12
The Second Sunday of Easter
Year A: The Second Sunday of Easter
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist
9:00 am
Intercessory Prayer
9:15 am
Adult Forum
10:30 am
Renewal of Baptismal Vows, Reception, and Holy Eucharist
11:45 am
Intercessory Prayer
Hospitality
Youth Group
12:30 pm
Fellowship of Saint John
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for Easter Sunday
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
04/05 Jessica & Jonathan McCrea (12)
04/05 Cherryl Andries
04/11 Margaret Forster & Paul Schultz (28)
04/11 Nina Postle (105)
For Your Prayers
☩ Requiescat in Pace
For those who have departed this life, and for their families mourning their loss:
Nancy Roesing
☩ For Those Serving in the Armed Forces at Home and Abroad
Loren Bates (Tina Velthuizen’s great-nephew)
Colin Woodruf (Nan Noecker’s grandson)
Cade Dorsch (Jo Dorsch’s grandson)
Brittany San Felipe (Erica Vitale's stepdaughter and wife of Chezka San Felipe)
John Jarrett (Erica's Vitale’s stepson, and husband of Ines Dutra)
Kristoff Richards (Extended Family of Erica Vitale)
Nathan Whitfield (Al and Norris Whitfield's son)
Will Cook (Brian and Tamisyn's Godson)
Nick Reardon ("Nephew" of the Grantzes)
Graham Sparks (Bishop Doug and Dana Sparks’ Son)
Riley Suter (friend of Jesse Grantz)
☩ For Those in Need of Healing & Recovery
For those facing illness, surgery, or physical distress:
Scott Bianchini (husband of Canon Carol Bianchini)
Stephen Foley
Ed Carlson (for Gretchen, his wife; and for Joni Carlson)
Candy McCarthy (Joann Dorsch’s daughter)
Rita (Donna Olis’ sister)
Helene Dauerty
Willow Grace Wilson
Rebecca Maloy (recovering from surgery) and for Cynthia Katsarelis.
Mary Beth Wright (rehabbing after a fall)
Joshua Henderson (Chris Henderson’s brother)
Michael Anand-Obelton
Mary Brooks
Kevin Renfro (our guest trumpeter)
Tim Lane, (son-in-law of Karen Slack, recovering from shoulder surgery)
Joni Carlson (continuing treatment)
James Ellar (high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, cancer recurrence)
Gideon and his family (healing)
Olivia (leukemia) and for her family
Robin & Laurie (healing from health issues)
☩ For Strength, Guidance, & Comfort
For those seeking spiritual support and peace:
Candy Kieta (former co-worker of Randy Colburn-Hochstetler)
Nadine Collier & the Collier Family
Bill Young (Catherine Craker’s Father) and for the entire Craker and Young families.
Marci Ullery (friend of Patty Hans)
Patty Hans
Derek (guidance)
Billy Hans (health & guidance)
Joseph Hilliard (strength & guidance)
Joyce (strength & guidance)
Marshall Moore (strength & guidance)
☩ General Intercessions
For friends, family, and members of the community:
The Anderson Family
Cherryl Andries
The Ashby Family: Shaun, Shirley, and Roland
Richard Bitner
Alissa Broussara
Mary M. Burman
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
Cobie (Tina Velthuizen’s sister)
The Demler and Martindale families
Jo Dorsch
Anne Ford
Paula Fowler
Connor Gibbons
Julie Guiler (DeDe’s Stepdaughter)
Ron Gunn
Tim Haywood and Janice
Rick Hillard
Mike Jaworski and Lisa
The Jeter Family: Jamie, Mimi, Joely, Mia, and the entire family
Bill Jones and his family
Joan Machatton
Dan & Gail Mandell
Joyce Marchant
Fred & Kate Mast
Sharron McGowan
Michael (Diane Hoist’s son) and his family
Elaine Mick
Tony Molnar
Richard Murphy Jr. and Jill Bird
Daniel & Amy Petry (parents of Amanda Helfrich)
The Proffitt and Hillman families
Carolynn Raney
Sheila & family
Karen Slack
Kevin Smith
Alan Thompson
Mthr. Tina Velthuizen
Deb Walter (friend of Sherry Berkley)
Kitty Ward
Donnie Zigler
☩ For Those Preparing for Holy Orders
Nan Noecker (Diaconate)
☩ World, National, and Local Community Concerns
For all of those who in the midst of the joy of the Resurrection, still find themselves suffering grief and loss.
For the Artemis II Astronauts, that their mission may be successful and that they return them safely home to Earth.
For the poor, the hungry, and the unemployed, that they may find willing helpers and gainful work to support themselves and their families.
For and end to racism in all its forms, that discrimination and violence may end. We pray especially for people of many faiths whose communities are often targeted in hateful attacks, and we pray that those with bigotry in their hearts may come to see, know, and respect the diginity of all human beings.
In our Nation, currently torn by fear, oppression, and strife, may Christ bring peace, healing, and unity. For peace and resolution of conflicts both at home and abroad.
How may we pray for you? To add (or remove) a petition from the Cathedral Prayer List, please send an email to Deacon Clay Berkley. If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please make sure you have their permission to add their name and any details to the prayer list.
Cathedral Leadership
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