Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Easter!!! Christ is Risen! Our Blessed Lord has conquered death once and for all! The great mystery of of our Faith that not only saves us from our sins but opens up for us a true share in God’s Divine Life. We can never appreciate this enough or ponder it too much for it is the very core of who we are as Catholics. The life of grace flows through the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection. Throughout the year we celebrate the different facets of this great mystery and in this season, we intensify our focus so we may enter more deeply into God’s love and grow in holiness!

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Holy Week Schedule Palm Sunday Fewer Palms Sadly the company from which we purchase our palms for Holy Week had to reduce our order due to shortages. This happened to many other parishes as well. We will still have palms to bless and distribute, but there may not be as many as usual for people to take home. At 4:30 and 8am Masses The blessing of palms will take place in the Narthex at the 10:30 Mass The blessing of palms will take place in the PAC and then a procession will form to go into the Church. For this Mass only, the assembly will be invited to begin in the PAC.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Faith Formation Next Week 9:15-10:15 This weekend, Sunday March 17 in between the Masses will be our monthly Faith Formation. Our topic will be: “What is a Bible Study, Anyway?” Wondering how to engage the Word of God more? How do I pray the Scriptures? What makes a good bible study? These are the questions we will explore. St. Jerome said, “To be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.” Join us so that we may know Christ better through His Inspired Word.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Laetare Sunday This weekend at Mass, the 4th Sunday of Lent, the liturgical color is rose (not pink!). This marks the half way point of Lent. It is like a little oasis in the desert. It is appropriate to “lighten up” a bit (but just a bit) from our penance so as to look forward in hope to the Easter festivities. Thank you to the St. Paul Ladies Guild for purchasing the rose-colored vestments for us.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Scrutinizing Scrutinies This year we are blessed to have catechumens who are seeking the Easter sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Communion. There is one adult and four children (above the age of reason) who are preparing through their Lenten period of purification and enlightenment. On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent the Church celebrates as part of the Mass, the ancient tradition of the “scrutinies,” when the church “scrutinized” the catechumens to make sure they are truly prepared to be received into the church.