Celebrate the joy of Christ’s Resurrection at the Easter Vigil, the pinnacle of the Church’s liturgical year. This sacred liturgy begins in darkness with the lighting of the Easter fire and the Paschal Candle, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World. The Vigil includes the proclamation of salvation history through Scripture, the joyful singing of the Exsultet, the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, and the triumphant Alleluia announcing Christ’s victory over sin and death. All are welcome to join us in this beautiful and ancient celebration of our faith.
Join us for the solemn celebration of the Lord’s Passion as we reflect on Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation. This powerful liturgy includes the recitation of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John, followed by the Veneration of the Cross, where we are invited to honor the instrument of our redemption. The service concludes with Holy Communion, as we contemplate the immense love and sacrifice of our Savior. All are encouraged to enter into this sacred time of prayer and reflection.
After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament will be placed in the Chapel of Repose for quiet prayer and reflection. We invite you to spend time with the Lord in this solemn and sacred atmosphere, recalling His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. The chapel will remain open for adoration until 9:00 PM, concluding with the praying of Night Prayer. Take this opportunity to enter into Christ’s Passion through silent prayer and devotion.
Join us as we commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper on this solemn evening, marking the beginning of the Sacred Triduum. This beautiful liturgy recalls Jesus’ institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood, as well as His call to loving service. The Mass will include the traditional Washing of the Feet and conclude with the solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose. All are invited to spend time in prayer and adoration following the liturgy.
Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday. This celebration begins our entrance into Holy Week. This next week is the highlight of our entire existence as Christians. This week, we celebrate the Mysteries of our Faith, beginning with the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem with loud shouts of Hosanna! These same voices by Friday will be the voices calling for the crucifixion of Jesus. So much will happen in a week. I truly encourage you to enter deeply into the celebrations and the prayer that surrounds Holy Week.
This week, our parish schedule will be a bit different, as it is every year. I thank Father Ray Gramata for his help this weekend and next while I am at SCI Mercer celebrating mass. Father Ray will be the celebrant at this Sunday and next 11a mass. This Monday, while there is no mass here in our parish, I will be in Erie at the celebration of the Chrism mass. This special mass is where the Holy Oils we use in our sacraments are blessed and consecrated. If you have never participated in this special liturgy before, I encourage you to join us online via the Cathedral’s Facebook Page, or make the journey to the Cathedral in Erie. (I will do my best to share it via our Facebook page.)
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have our normal 8a masses in our parish. On Thursday, the only mass we are permitted to celebrate is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm. This special mass is the beginning of the Holy Triduum, and is one continual celebration that starts with the celebration of this Holy Day and ends with the celebration of the Easter Vigil, which must start after sunset on Saturday night. Our celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday will be at 12:15pm. No celebration of the Holy Eucharist is permitted throughout the world on Good Friday. You will notice that we do not conclude with the sign of the cross on Holy Thursday, nor will we make the sign of the cross on Good Friday at the beginning or end of the liturgies; this is because it is one continual celebration showing forth the mysteries that occur from the celebration of the Last Supper through the celebration of the Great Resurrection of Our Lord. Our Easter Sunday Mass Schedule will be at 8am and 11am.
Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:
The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit. Keep watering your dreams, hopes, and goals. Motivation gets you going; habit keeps you going. Don’t measure your progress using someone else’s ruler. Some things have to end so that better things can begin. Faith can move mountains; doubt and fear can create them.
Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday, because we hear an account of the passion of Jesus Christ during the liturgy. Most churches also share this reading in common. Many Catholic parishes use multiple lectors to proclaim the Gospel, while it is not uncommon for a similar reading or even a performance in many mainstream Protestant churches.
The commonality found in the worship on this particular Sunday seems to highlight the fundamental truth in the observance: Jesus Christ died for everyone. He did not die on a cross for just Catholics, or just Orthodox, or just Protestants. Whether one acknowledges it or not, he was crucified for all those who are born of man. Today, we rejoice not just for what he has done for us but also for what he has done for all of creation.
On Holy Saturday, church regulation does not permit any Masses to be celebrated before sunset. This is the case so that the church is dark for the lighting of the Easter Fire and Paschal Candle. Consequently, we cannot have the 5:00 pm mass that day. The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 pm. This is the earliest time permitted by the diocese.
On Holy Thursday, morning Masses are not permitted. Our Mass will be at 7:00 pm. It will be followed by Adoration until 11:30 pm. The Passion of Our Lord and Holy Communion service will be at 12:15 pm on Good Friday.
On Holy Saturday, we will be decorating the church at 9:00 am. A word of gratitude and appreciation goes out to all those who donated for the Easter Lilies. Those names will be in next weekend’s bulletin. The blessing of Easter foods will take place on Holy Saturday at 12:00 pm in church.
In May, our Sunday Mass schedule is set to return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Before we make that decision, we want to make sure that is the best time for summer. In the bulletin for the next few weeks, a form will be available to select your favored option for the Summer Sunday Schedule. We ask that you only return one form per family. You can place the form in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office.
For the months of May—August, our Mass schedule is set to change from 11 am to 10:30 am. We are asking all parishioners to circle their preferred option below and return to the parish office via the collection or mailing in your response.
Option 1: 8:00 am & 11:00 am
Option 2: 8:00 am & 10:30 am
Option 3: 8:00 am & 10:00 am
Here’s a thought for your week: Get into the habit of asking yourself, “does this support the kind of life God wants me to create?”
Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy
The IHM 300 Club will be a special 6 month raffle, and more information about this can be found in today’s bulletin, as well as on our website. Tickets will begin being sold this weekend, April 1 & 2 after all the masses. Tickets can also always be purchased through the parish office after next weekend.
