Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. This is the time of year we stop to remember and relive the events which brought about our redemption and salvation. What we commemorate and relive during this week is not just Jesus’ dying and rising, but our own dying and rising in Him, which will result in our healing, reconciliation, and redemption. Attentive participation in the Holy Week liturgy will deepen our relationship with God, increase our Faith and strengthen our lives as disciples of Jesus. Therefore, I would like to invite everyone to take part actively in this Holy Week liturgy.

 The very important three days of Holy Week are known as ‘The Holy Triduum’ leading to Easter Sunday. They are Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday: The day before His death commemorates three important actions of Jesus.

1. The institution of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus instituted the Eucharist on the day of the Last Supper.
2. The institution of the ministerial Priesthood. In instituting the Eucharist, Jesus also instituted the priesthood. Today the priests make present the redemptive Sacrifice of Christ through the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church.
3. The promulgation of His New Commandment of Love. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus taught this new commandment by washing the feet of his disciples.

 Good Friday: It commemorates the Passion and death of the Lord Jesus. We fast on this day and take part in the Stations of the Cross. This day’s special liturgy has three parts.
1. The Liturgy of the Word.
2. Veneration of the Cross
3. Holy Communion.

 Holy Saturday: On this Saturday The Easter Vigil Mass begins with the Service of Light. The Easter (Pascal) Candle is lit, the Exsultet is sung, and the Old Testament readings are read, retracing the steps of salvation history. After the Gloria is sung, we celebrate our death and resurrection with Christ with a reading from the New Testament; then the Gospel is  read, catechumens are baptized, and confirmations take place. People are received into the Church, and they receive their First Communion.

 I wish to invite all of you to participate in this Holy Week celebrations and experience the joy of Resurrection in your lives.

 God bless you all!

Fr. Kishore Battu SAC

Next Sunday (Palm Sunday) we will have a second collection, which will be for the mission and works of the Pallottines back in India. In the past years you have always been very generous and we are grateful for that. Know for sure that your sacrifices will go a long way. I know there has been many 2^nd collections during the Lenten season, so if you are not able to help financially do not be disheartened, just offer a prayer for our missionary works and you will receive your blessings in return.

Back in India, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province (ABVM) is venturing into new mission areas and our formation houses are still growing with many seminarians at different stages of their formation. This April-May 2019, 20 deacons will be ordained priests. I will be attending the ordinations of two of the deacons whom I have known since the time they entered the seminary. We are blest to know that our Society in India is still growing at a good phase.

Plans are already in place for the division of the ABVM Province which was covering five States in India. In January of 2020 this Province will be divided into two more, a Province and a Region. With that we will have a total of 4 Provinces and 1 Region in the whole of India. In that way each Province will have the opportunity to explore different places of missions as well as to grow further.

 We as Pallottines are very blessed to have this opportunity to serve here in this Archdiocese and especially here at St. Valentine Parish for the past 12 years. Your prayers, words of encouragement and your support keep us going stronger. Thank you once again for all the sacrifices you make for the good of the parish. May our Founder St. Vincent Pallotti and our Patroness Mary Queen of the Apostles continue to guide us as we minister to you.

God Bless you.

Fr. Socorro

Volunteers Needed

 On Holy Thursday (April 18), during the “Mass Of The Lord’s Supper”, twelve volunteers are needed to re-enact the role of the apostles in a washing of the feet celebration. You are invited to become one of the volunteers.

Please “sign-up” on the poster located in the main vestibule of church.

Passion Play

What a Week for Jesus  – The newly confirmed with the assistance of the 7th graders from the school will be re-enacting the Passion Play, What a Week for Jesus. All are welcome to join us in Church and support our newly confirmed on the following days: Monday, April 15 at 7 pm, Thursday, April 18 or Good Friday, April 19th after the Stations of the Cross at 1:30 p.m.