I have begun to notice an increase of people attending Mass which I attribute to more & more people feeling comfortable being out in public after they have received the vaccine. So let me first say to you, welcome back! It may have been months or even over a year since some of you were last here and we are thrilled to have you join us physically again. This is a good opportunity for me to encourage anyone who has been away from church to return now, but also to let you know that the dispensation still remains in effect for those who do not feel comfortable or ready to come back yet. Let us pray that as more people receive the vaccine and the spread of the virus continues to decrease, that life may return to some sort of normalcy in the weeks & months ahead. It’s been a difficult year that is now behind us, and we continue to grieve the loss of those who have died from the coronavirus and to pray for those whose health has been compromised as a result of it. But let us pray with hope and gratitude that we may live in good health and freedom as spring is in the air and the memory of the Crucified but Risen Christ is brought to the front of our minds.
With that, I invite you to take or receive palms that will be available for this “Palm” or “Passion” Sunday (so named as it is the first time this week the Passion story of Jesus’s suffering & death will be proclaimed, the second time being on Good Friday).
Our full Holy Week schedule is available in the parish bulletin & on our website, but I’ll invite you now to join us especially for the “Sacred Triduum” or the sacred three days which make up the holiest days of the year. On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will begin at 7pm. Though we will not have the washing of the feet this year which reminds us of what our Lord did to express his life of service at the Last Supper, we will still celebrate the gift of the Eucharist given on this day to the Church. The Blessed Sacrament will be moved from the main body of the church and placed on the altar in the chapel area at the end of Mass and the church will remain open for one hour after Mass for those who wish to sit and contemplate the meaning of this day.
On Good Friday, the church will be open from 9am until after our 7pm Service and you are welcome to come and pray in the church at any time. Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 3pm and the Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be at 7pm. The Veneration of the Cross will take place, however we ask that you adore the Cross either with a bow or genuflection instead of a kiss or touch. Holy Communion will be offered as usual during this Service.
The Blessing of Food will take place on Holy Saturday at 11:30am. The Easter Vigil will be at 8:30pm on Saturday but no candles will be used by those in the congregation. Mass on Easter Sunday will be at 8am and 11am. There will be no 9:30am Mass this year as we continue to anticipate a smaller crowd than usual this year. We look forward to your presence as we marvel at the Presence of the Lord who died and rose so that we will never be alone.