Father
Derek Lappe
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Father Derek Lappe has been the pastor of St. Thomas
Aquinas Catholic Church in our beautiful Camas since July 1, 2002.
Born in 1972, the second of five children, Father Lappe
spent most of his growing up years in Longview, Washington and attended
St. Rose de Viterbo parish. He discovered his vocation to the priesthood
when he was a sophomore in High School. Through prayer and study his
love for the Christ and the Church grew and helped him to say yes
to God’s plan for his life.
After High School Father Lappe went to community college
for a couple of years before being accepted as a seminarian for the
Archdiocese of Seattle and entered Mount Angel Seminary. In 1996,
Archbishop Murphy sent him to Rome to study Theology. He was ordained
June 10, 2000.
After his ordination, Father Lappe served as an associate
pastor in Grays Harbor for one year, at St. Charles in Tacoma for
one year, and is now working on his sixth year as pastor at St. Thomas.
He loves his life as a priest and the people whom he
serves, which is evident in the manner in which he opens the scriptures
and teaches his flock the Truth of Christianity. On his days off he
likes salmon and steelhead fishing along with archery and elk hunting.
Easter Sunday - March 27, 2005
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we begin Holy Week a sacred and blessed time in
the life of every Christian. It is a week set aside to focus us especially
on the marvelous things that God has done to work our salvation. With
the Mass of Palm Sunday we remember the triumphal entry of our Lord
into Jerusalem when he was received with great acclamation and joy.
Holy Thursday is the day on which we mark the beginning
of three important realities for us as Catholics. First is the institution
of the Eucharist. We recall how Christ, the night before he died gave
his disciples the gift of his very Body and Blood, the pledge of his
love and Real Presence with his people. To make that Presence a reality
through all time, He institutes as well the Sacrament of Holy Orders,
so that the Church will always have priests to celebrate the Eucharist.
And finally he gives them the new commandment to love and charity,
by the washing of the disciples feet.
On Good Friday we have our Tre Ore service with preaching
on the Seven Last Words and the opportunity to make a good confession
before Easter. Fr. Hogan and I will take turns preaching and hearing
confessions from Noon till 3:00pm, so it is a good chance to come
and spend some time getting ready for the celebration of the Death
and Resurrection of Christ. Tre Ore is followed by the Stations of
the Cross as we follow along the path which Christ walked on the day
of his Death.
Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil marks the culmination
of Christian joy as we celebrate Our Lord’s victory over death.
It is a time of particular joy for us here at St. Thomas as we receive
all those who have been preparing for baptism and reception into the
Church.
Easter Sunday...the Masses are always full so be sure
to come early.
I hope that you will set aside some time during this
important week to participate in the Parish Mission and the Liturgies
of Holy Week.
In Christ,
Fr. Lappe
