From the Pastor’s Desk: April 14, 2019

     Today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Branches of palm, olive, or sometimes even budding willow are ancient symbols of victory and hope as well as new life. The procession celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem overflowed with praise and excitement as the onlookers waved these triumphant branches and proclaimed their blessings. Yet in a few days they will cry out, “Away with Him, crucify Him!”
 
     With Palm Sunday we enter an important time of transition– an ending of five weeks of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. I want to personally invite everyone to make time in your schedule to participate in the liturgical celebration of Holy Week in the parish.
 
     Our regular Mass schedule will continue until Tuesday. On Wednesday at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, priests of our diocese with the bishop and faithful will gather for the Annual Chrism Mass. During the Mass, the bishop will bless the oils of the catechumens and the sick and will consecrate the sacred chrism. A part of the celebration is the Renewal of Commitment to the Priestly Service – a pledge to greater union with Christ and more loving service of God’s people, especially by celebrating the Eucharist with love and devotion.
 
     On Thursday, the Easter Triduum begins, which is the summit of the whole liturgical year. We begin with Morning Prayer – the richest single prayer resource of the Catholic Church. It provides prayers, psalms and meditation that have existed in the church from the earliest times, to fulfill the Lord's command to “pray without ceasing.” It is the perfect way for the parish community to prayerfully enter into the Holy Triduum. The evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper celebrates the three gifts of Jesus Christ to His Church – the Priesthood, the Eucharist and the life of service. The one main theme that unites the gifts together as sacred Scripture recalls is the "new commandment" - "mandatum novum" - to love one another. The Liturgy does not simply tell us about Christ’ love, but through word, ritual action and sacrament, we can truly experience it in a very personal way.
 
     Good Friday centers on the Passion and is a day of fast and abstinence, oriented to the contemplation of the cross.  Our participation in the celebrations of this day is not just an expression of our emotions of grief and mourning or simply being present. For us Catholic Christians, we share the gift of faith in the Redeemer that gives us hope and confidence. Today’s celebration allows us to deepen our reflection upon the mystery of the Trinity – the God who is Love is revealed in the ordinary language of a fallen world through rejection, pain and suffering. At the heart of the Passion we also reflect upon the divine paradox: “Death itself is put to death on this day which we call ‘good’”. 
 
     Holy Saturday is traditionally a day of fasting, silence and contemplation. But also it is a day of excitement and anticipation for the Elect, who have been preparing for long period of time for the sacraments they will receive tonight. The Easter Vigil is the culminating liturgy of the year for the entire parish. This “holy night” is the “mother of all holy vigils.” It celebrates the Lord’s rising from the dead and reminds us that “this is the Night.” We celebrate the Lord who took our human flesh and now rises to new life of the Resurrection in His glorified and immortal body. In our happiness we sing joyful “Gloria and alleluias” as the incarnation reaches its fulfillment and brings us gifts of love, faith, hope and peace and promise of eternal life. I want to invite everyone to make time in your schedule to participate in liturgies of the Holy Week with our parish, to experience an amazing celebration of Easter.
 
     Our Lenten Fish Fry was an incredible success. I thank the Pastor’s Advisory Team for their leadership role to coordinate the efforts of many ministries who helped to make the meals such a success. Thank you for your generous support and dedication. Thank you one and all for your incredible job! Until next year…
 
     I wish all of you a most beautiful and prayerful Holy Week. Please follow closely the schedule for Holy Week to participate and generously share with one another the gift of your time in prayer.
 
With prayers,
Fr. Andy