From the Desk of Fr. Mike ...

 

HOLY WEEK

 

We enter into a sacred time this week starting today with Palm Sunday, into Holy Week and the Triduum, where we walk with Jesus, first joining him at the sacrificial banquet at the Last Supper, to see him betrayed, then led to trial. We walk with him the steep hill of Calvary to witness his dying and our dying with him as he promises life to the repentant thief.  We celebrate the sacred mysteries at the Easter Vigil next Saturday night at 9:00pm, to see the new fire, the blessing of the new Pascal Candle and its procession into the darkened church, to listen to the Scripture stories of our redemption, to singing with lively faith that first Alleluia this Easter and to be bathed in the new waters of baptism which recalls our dying and rising.  We will then experience, along with Adam Stevens who will join our Catholic Church, the power of the Holy Spirit as he is confirmed in the faith that God has called him to.  What a holy week!  What a week to look forward to seeing how loved we are by God and how Jesus Christ, the center of life, shares with us eternal life.

 

To better celebrate the sacred mysteries during Holy Week, we will break from some of our 'usual' customs to experience deeply the events that gave us the most important elements of our salvation:  

 

· Holy Thursday night, as we did last year, members of the Liturgy Commission and friends will bake Eucharistic bread that was more like the very bread that Jesus used at the Last Supper.  It was unleavened and will be more 'bread-like'.  This bread will be consecrated at the Mass and that which is left over will be used at the Liturgy of Good Friday, as in keeping with sacred tradition.  We did this last year and it was well received.

 

· Deacon Ernie and I will wash the feet of  parishioners at the Washing of Feet by going down the aisle and doing this holy action right in the assembly area.  We did this last year and again it was well received and the parishioners nearby are able to see and experience the love that Jesus was trying to express in His actions before the Last Supper.

 

· At the end of Mass, we will process the Blessed Sacrament down to the Parish Hall where the Altar of Repose will be set up.  We are inviting parishioners to come down and spend some time in prayer before the greatest of all gifts given to the Church, the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ.

 

A warning to those sensitive to incense. Incense  will be used at Palm Sunday Masses for the Entrance, at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, at the Easter Vigil and at Easter Sunday Masses.  If you are sensitive to incense, you may want to sit near the doors or away from the aisle.  

 

Good Friday Liturgy will begin at 1pm at Our Lady of the Sierra Church.