The Pastor's Pen, April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

 

Boy’s Echo: Please pray for the team and candidates of the Echo retreat taking place this weekend. The team is led by David Ryan as Rector and includes Deacon Brendan Brides, Kevin Duarte, and who are from Christ the King Parish. Let us pray that the team and candidates will come away from this special experience with a renewed appreciation of the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection as essential to our salvation and as operating daily in the lives of all the faithful.

A Truly Holy Week: As we try to keep this week holy the opportunity to participate in daily Mass on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be available at 5:30PM in addition to 8:30 AM . This should enable those who find it challenging to get up and out early, or who are working, to be able to attend Mass on the days of Holy Week that its celebration is permitted.

Adult Enrichment Classes: WHY WE WORSHIP will not be held on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday, but will resume on Sunday, April 16th at 9:30AM and 6:30PM.

Holy Week Confessions: Monday, April 3rd from 3PM to 6PM in the Main Church.

Last Year’s Palms: Dried blessed palms from the past year(s) may be placed in the baskets found at the entrances to the church through Wednesday of this week. These will be burnt in the new fire kindled and blessed at the beginning of the Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday.

THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday: There is no Mass permitted in parishes on this Thursday except the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper which begins at 7PM. This Mass marks the end of Lent and the opening of the Triduum which is actually one liturgy that unfolds over three days. As Lent officially ends a collection of the alms for the poor which have been generated by our fasting and self-denial during the past 40 days is taken up. As is customary, each person will be invited forward with their gift for the poor in monetary form which represents the fruit if our Lenten self-denial through meal(s) not taken out at restaurants, liquor, sweets, or other treats not consumed or costly entertainments not enjoyed; sacrifices which now translate into great blessings for the poor. Non-perishable food items will also be welcome in the presentation of gifts that evening. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament instituted at the Lord’s Supper will follow Mass until 10PM Night Prayer, many are encouraged to remain in prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of the Eucharis on this special night.

Good Friday: Good Friday will begin with the communal celebration of Morning Prayer at 9am. This is the one day of the year that Mass is not permitted but all are called to keep holy the hours of noon to 3 o’clock which coincide with the time during which Christ hung on the cross and then died. At 3 o’clock, the hour of his death and thus divine mercy, we gather together to commemorate Christ’s suffering and death by participating in the Service of the Passion which includes Veneration of the Cross and the reception of Holy Communion. The Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 7PM for those unable to attend the 3 O’clock service.
The Good Friday Collection for the support of the Christians and sacred sites of the Holy land is taken up at the Service and the Stations.

Holy Saturday: This day also begins with the communal celebration of Morning Prayer at 9AM. As we remember the Lord as he lay in the tomb in the sleep of death we are asked to wait in vigil for the celebration of his glorious resurrection which begins with the Great Vigil of Easter at 7PM. The Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of the year during which the “Alleluia” returns and the catechumens and candidates are brought into the fullness of the faith with us.

Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord: Masses at 8AM, 9:30AM and 11AM. Please note the change in Mass times on Easter Sunday only in order to accommodate three Masses in the morning as there will be no 5:30 PM Mass on Easter Sunday evening.