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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Entering Passiontide
This week we enter traditional Passiontide.  It is at this time that crosses, images, and statues are covered in the Church.  This practice comes from our tradition of proclaiming John’s Gospel when Jesus, conversing with the Jews in the Temple and challenging them to know He is the Messiah, “hid himself and went out from the temple.”  Thus we “hide” the images to help us prepare for Palm Sunday and Holy Week.  There is another liturgical effect that comes from this practice.  Liturgically through Lent the “apophatic” is emphasized.  This means we learn and are formed by what is not there.  For instance, we are used to singing the Gloria, the Alleluia, wearing white or green, hearing the more of the organ, singing more hymns.  All these things are symbols of joy and victory.  But in Lent the church emphasizes that which prepares us for the victory, which means we are not there yet.  So, these liturgical elements are removed apophatically.  This helps us to enter more deeply into our penance.  We miss these elements and rightly so, but that is the point.  If we were singing Easter hymns and alleluia now, it would diminish the appreciation we have at Easter.  All through lent we die more and more to worldly things; we even die to our senses. We desire to see images and statues, but the church, through this veiling, reminds us to see beyond the statues, beyond our wants and desires. Thus, we can focus on the reality of Christ and His sacrifice for our souls, not for having pretty things in Church.  Not that we should not appreciate the beauty of our churches. Far from it, but we need to remember the source of that beauty comes from somewhere else - someone else - Jesus Christ.

Faith Formation Nights to Return in May
It has been a while, Faith Formation Sessions are returning.  We used to have them on Sunday mornings, but with our current Mass schedule that will not work.  Some comments have come saying they would prefer sessions not on Sunday anyway.  So we are going to try the first and third Mondays of the month from 6-7pm.  Our men’s and women’s groups meet on the second and fourth Mondays, so this will complement that schedule.  The session will be in the church and include at least some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  When we get closer more details will be published, but in the meantime please feel free to contact the rectory to recommend any appropriate topics. 

Monday Night Lenten Holy Hours
Each week has been for a particular intention. Each Holy Hour will begin at 6pm and conclude with Solemn Benediction. 
            Mar 6 - Pope Francis and the Universal Church
            Mar 13 - Bishop Malesic and the Diocese Cleveland
            Mar 21 - Parish of St. Paul
            Mar 28 - Unity in the Church
            Apr  4  - Deeper Reverence in the Liturgy

Confession Opportunities
Lent is word that means spring.  It is a time then for spring cleaning.  That means spiritual spring cleaning of the soul.  Here are the extra opportunities coming up:
At St. Paul’s Thursdays of Lent from 6-7pm

Final Cluster Parish Confessions on April 5 at St Francis de Sales Parish

Have a Blessed Passiontide.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr