Dearest Epiphany parishioners,

The heart of the People of God will be set on the worship of Holy Week beginning this weekend on Palm Sunday. Having faithfully observed our Lenten sacrifices and practices during this pandemic year, it is a grace to be able to celebrate the Paschal Triduum and enter into the Church's Easter joy! I wanted to share with you how our parishioners and parish staff have prepared the liturgies so that we as a parish can faithfully enter into the Church's worship this coming Holy Week.  

Masses on Palm Sunday will be our regular weekend Mass schedule with plenty of palms for everyone in attendance.  We are still at 50% capacity, which is around 750 people per Mass. The Church will be open from 7am to 7pm on Sunday, March 28th, so that those who are joining us in spiritual communion via streaming can still have an opportunity, if you would like, to stop by the church on Palm Sunday in between Masses to pick up a blessed palm as part of your Passion Sunday devotion.

On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper will be at our regular annual time of 7pm on April 1st. The one noticeable adjustment we are making is that we will not have the Washing of the Feet ritual this year. We will still have our Holy Thursday Night Watch after Mass until 11:30pm in the church.

On Good Friday (April 2nd), we will celebrate the beautiful Good Friday liturgy of the Lord's Passion. This year, there will not be individual veneration of the Cross; but there will be a period of time at the service when everyone will be able to venerate the Cross from where they are sitting in the pews.

Our Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 3rd, begins at 8:30pm sundown and the only change is that the blessing of the Easter Candle will take place in the sanctuary of the church instead of outside the church with the night fire. Very importantly, we will be bringing our catechumens and candidates into the Church at this holy Mass.   

Finally, Easter Sunday is April 4th, and we have Masses at 8:00am, 9:45am, and 11:30am in both the Church (which again seats 750 people) and the Family Center (which seats 250 people comfortably).  We will still social distance and all wear our protective masks during all of the Masses at Epiphany. We will also stream for our home congregation each major day's service.

For your convenience, I have attached a copy of our schedule of services during Holy Week. I just wanted to highlight the most noticeable of our pandemic adjustments to the liturgies as we all prepare our heart for the holiest of weeks in our Church. May the Risen Christ continue to bless you and your family for the sacrifices you make out of love for Our Father and for His Church.  And see you throughout Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday this weekend!

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Lam

Pastor