Holy Week is here! This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and begin the holiest period of the Church year, commemorating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem before his suffering, death and ultimate resurrection on Easter. Attached is our bulletin for this Sunday, April 10th, a reflection from Fr. Canisius, and a copy of our Holy Week schedule of services. We invite and encourage everyone to participate in as many of these prayer and worship opportunities as possible.
Let's Walk Together This Holy Week!
What did Jesus do during His final week leading up to His Passion? Holy Week is the sacred time in which we remember and reflect on the final days of Christ's life.
This Holy Week, walk alongside Jesus during the final and most important moments in His life. Take a few minutes each day this Holy Week to read the summary of that day below. Click the day to read the entire Bible story.
Palm Sunday
The day Jesus enters Jerusalem and the crowds joyfully sing: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" while waving palm branches.
Holy Thursday
The day of the Last Supper, when Jesus eats the Passover with His apostles and washes their feet.
Good Friday
The day in which Jesus is condemned to death. He carries the Cross all the way to Calvary where He is crucified and dies for our sins.
Holy Saturday
The day in which Jesus' body lays within the tomb and His soul descended into the realm of the dead, to bring the Gospel to all the righteous men and women who died before Him.
Our Contemporary Choir will lead us in praying the Stations of the Cross tonight (Friday, 4/8) beginning at 7:00pm using the Biblical Way of the Cross, based on the stations used by St. John Paul II. Please come and pray with us.
Confessions will be heard tomorrow (Saturday, 4/9) from 3:15pm-3:45pm and on Wednesday evening (4/13) from 6pm-7pm. These are the last opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter. Confessions will NOT be heard on Holy Saturday, 4/16.
All children in grades 1-8 are invited to join us singing at the 4pm Mass tomorrow (Saturday,4/9). Please meet at 3:00pm in the Church. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity.
Pull out the organ stops and tune up the brass. The 4pm Palm Sunday Vigil Mass tomorrow (Saturday, 4/9) will be extra special. We will be hosting the Baltimore Brass. They will begin playing at 3:45pm. The choir, children, and congregation will all join together in the celebration, waving our palms as Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning "darkness" or "shadows" and is a service that has been practiced by the Church since medieval times. The Tenebrae service is an ancient Christian tradition that is often celebrated after dark on the evening of Good Friday. Tenebrae is a somber service that remembers Jesus’ suffering and death. Tenebrae is a religious service characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total darkness near the end of the service. Worshipers leave in silence to ponder the impact of Christ's death and await the celebration of the coming Resurrection.
Come join us on Good Friday evening (April 15) at 7pm for Tenebrae, a service of light. Come see why "This Jesus Must Die!"
The parish office will be closed on Friday, April 15th and on Monday, April 18th in observance of the Good Friday and Easter holy days.
DIVINE MERCY PRAYER HOUR
There will be a Divine Mercy Holy Hour celebrated following the 4pm Mass on Saturday, April 23. The first weekend after Easter is dedicated to celebrate the mercy of God and our trust in Jesus Christ. Plan on attending the Holy Hour. It will include Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Benediction. So, please mark your calendar and plan to join Deacon Steve Roscher in this opportunity for prayer.
Sacristan-in-Training Needed
We are looking for a young adult,
age 18-21, to train as a sacristan
for all weekend Masses. This is a
part-time, paid position; Saturdays,
3pm-5:30pm and Sundays, 8am-
12:30pm. Duties include setting up
the worship space for Mass, running the livestream feed, and general assistance with the flow of the liturgy. Interested candidates should contact the parish office to speak with Fr. Canisius.
