Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Blessed Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday or also referred to as the second Sunday of Passiontide.
The joy of Easter is almost here, but we have to first accompany our Blessed Lord in His Passion.  We have marked this time by covering statues and images that leads us into today’s commemorating of the Lord’s arrival in Jerusalem as we bless and process with palms.  Then we have the reading of the Passion Narrative from Matthew’s Gospel.  This even more somber time invites us to walk with Jesus and carry the Cross with Him.  This is not a time to make ourselves artificially depressed, but to embrace a somber solemnity and even more reverent silence.  There will not be any organ and only simpler chants for Mass.

The Holy Triduum
While Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil are not obligatory, I encourage everyone to make the time to participate as much as possible (see the schedule below). The Church gives us this wonderful time and helps us enter the mysteries of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection in powerful ways. 
On Holy Thursday we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the holy priesthood as we look to Christ’s example of fraternal charity.  After Holy Communion at this Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is processed to an altar of repose where people can hold vigil with our Lord.  There is a Roman custom of after the Mass people visiting different parishes and stopping at the altar of repose at each to pray.  This bulletin has a list of neighboring parishes open hours for prayer.  Why not make a mini pilgrimage and experience our connection with the wider Catholic church.

On Good Friday of course there is no Mass, but a service where we venerate the Cross.  Here we use the very same cross that has been in the narthex throughout Lent - the Cross to which we have been nailing our sins and struggles.  That Cross will be processed forward and people are invited to come and unite themselves to the sacrifice of Christ as He shows us His love. While this Liturgy is not a Mass, there will be the opportunity to receive Holy Communion to aid us on our way through death into Christ’s life. 

Easter Vigil.  This is the “Mother of All Liturgies” with the blessing of the Easter Fire and Candle, the chanting of the Exsultet, the readings of salvation history, the renewal of baptismal promises, and the initiating of new members of the Catholic Church.  The smells, the bells, the gloria, the statues, decorations, everything that has been deprived will return as we welcome the joy of Resurrection, Christ’s victory over death. 

Divine Mercy Novena
Starting on Good Friday is the Divine Mercy Novena which then concludes on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter).  Pray it on your own or check out our Facebook Page if you want to follow along.

Holy Week Liturgy Schedule
Palm Sunday - regularly scheduled Mass times.
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7pm
Good Friday Service - 3pm
(including adoration of the Holy Cross and Distribution of Holy Communion)
Holy Saturday Blessing of Easter Food - Noon
Easter Vigil - 8:45pm
Easter Sunday - Regular Schedule

Blessed Passiontide!
St. Paul, Pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr