Our Lenten journey is coming to a close. This is the last week before Passion Week. Today as we begin the Holy Week, the church invites us to commemorate and reenact the suffering and death of Jesus and the event which immediately led up to it. It is a week were we are called to reflect more deeply on Jesus’ love for the humanity. He suffered, He died for the atonement of our sins. Are we grateful to Jesus for this great sacrifice? Then let us spend some time together in this week and take a moment to say – Thank You Jesus.

 Palm Sunday – This weekend we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the Blessing and Procession with Palms. He comes to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, which was an animal of peace. He came to bring peace. In a world where there is a lot of violence and war, hatred and enmity, let us walk with the King of Peace in this coming week and be peace makers indeed!

 The Great Three Days – Triduum – the climax of the whole of our Christian Year. It is the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. The Jewish Passover from slavery in Egypt, to freedom in the Promised Land anticipates and prefigures our Passover from the darkness and slavery of sin to the new life of the Risen Christ.

These three days make up one single celebration of our Passover from death to life. Each day we focus on different aspects of that one Passover. The Liturgy of the Triduum is the way we, as a community, celebrate publicly the Easter mystery. This commemorates not only historical events, but celebrates and makes present their saving effect in our lives and in our parish this year.

 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Holy Thursday: We will begin this service at 7:00 pm During this Mass we have the Washing of the Feet and the Procession with the Blessed Sacrament. At the School Chapel Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue until midnight.  

 Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion – Good Friday: The most solemn day in the Christian calendar, the one day in a year on which the Eucharist is not celebrated – there is no Mass on Good Friday. It is also a day where the Church reminds us to do fasting and abstinence. On this day we have the Stations of the Cross at 1:00 pm, followed by the Passion Play performed by the 8th graders and the liturgy at 2:30 pm. The ministers enter in silence and prostrate themselves on the ground. The reading is taken from the passion of St. John’s gospel; we pray in a very deliberative way for the needs of the entire world; then we have the unveiling and Veneration of the Cross followed by Holy Communion.  

 The Easter Vigil – Holy Saturday: The Great Easter Vigil will be celebrated at 8:30 pm beginning with the Blessing of the Fire and Lighting of the Paschal candle. This will be followed with a procession into the Church with lighted candles and singing, ‘Christ the Light’. After the Liturgy of the Word we renew our Baptismal promises. We then continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

On this night we will also welcome our RCIA candidates and the Elect. We have  1 Elect who will receive the sacraments of initiation and 6 candidates who will enter into full communion in the Catholic Church. Let us continue to pray for them that they may keep walking faithfully in the ways of the Lord. Easter Sunday Masses will be at 9:00 am and noon.

May Jesus who gave His life for the world be resurrected in our lives.

Wishing you a Blessed Holy Week.