Pastor's Message
March 22, 2024
Friday of the Fifth Week in Lent
Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Collect for the Mass on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
We soon enter into the most sacred days in the Christian calendar: Holy Week. It begins with Palm Sunday with Jesus, on the top of His game, entering Jerusalem to cheering crowds. Surrounded by faithful disciples, His followers are ready to crown Him king.
How quickly it all changes. By the end of the week, Jesus has been isolated, arrested, defeated, and executed on the Cross. What follows is the most unexpected of all miracles, Jesus being raised to new life in the Resurrection on that first Easter Sunday.
In the events of Holy Week, Jesus clears the pathway for us to be delivered from death to new life. It is the heart and soul of the Church's proclamation that Jesus is Lord.
Our lives have absolute meaning because of what Jesus has done for us. It's what He does for us in the gift of the Eucharist, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, given so that our lives can conform to His. It's the gift of the ordained priesthood, which we commemorate on Holy Thursday. It's the gift of His Passion and Cross that we mark on Good Friday. It's the gift of the Resurrection that we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.
The events of Holy Week are an invitation to God's grace and to shape us through the Cross and Resurrection, forming the sacramental life of the Church. We were first invited into this new life on the day of our baptism. We will renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. All of our Lenten observances have been leading up to Holy Week.
I ask that every household in the parish commit to participate as much as possible in liturgies of Holy Week. Emphasize Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Personally invite people to come with you to our Holy Week liturgies. Make an effort to reach out to those who have not been to Mass in some time, regardless of the reasons. Invite those who have no church home.
How quickly it all changes. By the end of the week, Jesus has been isolated, arrested, defeated, and executed on the Cross. What follows is the most unexpected of all miracles, Jesus being raised to new life in the Resurrection on that first Easter Sunday.
In the events of Holy Week, Jesus clears the pathway for us to be delivered from death to new life. It is the heart and soul of the Church's proclamation that Jesus is Lord.
Our lives have absolute meaning because of what Jesus has done for us. It's what He does for us in the gift of the Eucharist, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, given so that our lives can conform to His. It's the gift of the ordained priesthood, which we commemorate on Holy Thursday. It's the gift of His Passion and Cross that we mark on Good Friday. It's the gift of the Resurrection that we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.
The events of Holy Week are an invitation to God's grace and to shape us through the Cross and Resurrection, forming the sacramental life of the Church. We were first invited into this new life on the day of our baptism. We will renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. All of our Lenten observances have been leading up to Holy Week.
I ask that every household in the parish commit to participate as much as possible in liturgies of Holy Week. Emphasize Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Personally invite people to come with you to our Holy Week liturgies. Make an effort to reach out to those who have not been to Mass in some time, regardless of the reasons. Invite those who have no church home.
Our Parish
Our Lenten Speaker Series concludes this evening with a meatless meal at 6:00 PM in McGuire Hall, followed by a presentation by Deacon Dan Brennon on the Eucharist. At 7:00 PM we will pray the Stations of the Cross in the church.
Congratulations to Sophia Calderoni, Fr. Alessandro's sister. She will be married tomorrow to Logan Bandfield at the Church of Saint Mary in Tulsa.
Our parish office closes on March 28 (Holy Thursday), March 29 (Good Friday), and April 1 (Monday of the Octave of Easter).
The Challenge Girls will be hosting a Drive-Thru Prayer for Intentions on March 29 (Good Friday) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM under the portico on the north side of the church building.
Tenebrae Service at Holy Family Cathedral
A Tenebrae Service consists of chanted psalms and lamentations on the evening of Palm Sunday in preparation for our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection. Bishop Konderla will lead the Tenebrae Service at Holy Family Cathedral on March 24 at 7:30 PM. It is open to all.
Chrism Mass at Holy Cathedral
One of the special events of Holy Week is the Chrism Mass. Celebrated in every diocese, the local bishop consecrates the oils that will be used for sacramental use; the Oil of Catechumens, the Sick, and Sacred Chrism. The priests of the diocese also renew their promises of ordination during the Chrism Mass.
Our diocesan Chrism Mass will be on Tuesday of Holy Week, March 26 at 5:30 PM at Holy Family Cathedral. All are welcome to participate.
Holy Week Schedule at the Church of Saint Benedict
Saturday, March 23
3:30 PM - Confessions
5:00 PM - Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday. There will be the blessing and distribution of palm branches.
Palm Sunday (March 24)
Regular Mass at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM. Weather permitting, we will start the 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM Masses at the bell tower and then process into the church. There will be the blessing and distribution of palm branches at all Mass. There will be Confessions before each Mass.
Monday of Holy Week (March 25)
8:30 AM - Daily Mass
5:00 PM - Confessions
Tuesday of Holy Week (March 26)
8:30 AM - Daily Mass
5:30 PM - Chrism Mass at Holy Family Cathedral
(No Confessions)
Wednesday of Holy Week (March 27)
8:30 AM - Daily Mass
5:00 PM - Confessions
Holy Thursday (March 28)
(No 6:30 AM or 8:30 AM Mass)
(Adoration closes at 5:00 PM)
5:00 PM - Confessions
7:00 PM - Mass of the Lord's Supper
(Exposition & Confessions after Mass until Midnight)
Good Friday (March 29)
(No 6:30 AM & 8:30 AM Mass, No Adoration)
2:00 PM - Confessions
3:00 PM - Stations of the Cross
5:00 PM - Confessions
7:00 PM - Celebration of the Lord's Passion & Veneration of the Cross
Holy Saturday (March 30)
(No 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
3:30 PM - Confessions
8:30 PM - Easter Vigil Mass
Easter Sunday (March 31)
7:00 AM - Mass
9:00 AM - Mass
12:00 PM - Mass
(No 5:00 PM Mass)
God bless and keep you safe.
Fr. Bryan