+JMJ+
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we begin Holy Week and together walk again in the steps of our Lord's blessed Passion and precious Death, and thereby prepare ourselves for the joy of his mighty Resurrection and glorious Ascension. This all begins with Palm Sunday, when we recall Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem with our own procession of palms. We will gather in the churchyard for the Liturgy of the Palms, and then process singing "All glory, laud, and honor" to Christ our King. Please be on time (the liturgy will begin promptly at 11AM) so that you may participate in the procession and enter fully into this Holy Week's devotions. From that triumph, of course things quickly change. We will see our King whom we have hymned crowned with thorns and enthroned on a cross as we hear St. Luke's Passion.
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, Holy Mass will be offered at 8AM.
Confessions are available on Monday and Wednesday mornings, 8.30 - 9.00AM and Wednesday evening from 5.00 till 6.00PM
On Maundy Thursday (7PM, Roman Missal) we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper and our Lord's abiding Presence with us in the Holy Eucharist, a Mass which ends with the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, where we may take our place with the Apostles to watch and pray in the garden. The Altar is stripped, our Lord is betrayed and given into the hands of sinners.
On Good Friday (3PM, Divine Worship) we offer the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion and venerate his Cross, and then receive the precious fruit of that Cross in the Holy Communion: our Lord's own Body broken for us.
On Easter Eve (8.00PM, Divine Worship) we light the new fire in church yard and process together with the Light of Christ into the darkened church, and keep the Solemn Vigil of Easter, hearing God's promises of old, and seeing them fulfilled in the Lord's Resurrection, our sacramental life - which is our participation in Jesus' Death and Resurrection - renewed again. I urge all of you to participate in the Vigil with us, and not to be afraid to bring children. When St Therese of Lisieux was novice mistress in her convent, she comforted novices who had fallen asleep at their evening prayers by telling them that to fall asleep in prayer was to fall asleep in the Father's arms. So bring the children to Jesus, and let them feel absolutely at home in the Church's worship. And please, invite your friends and family, and share the announcements of these liturgies widely.
On Easter Day, Masses will be celebrated at 9AM (Roman Missal) & 11AM(Divine Worship) (I will be the celebrant for both of those Masses).
Wednesday School will be enjoying Spring Break in Holy Week and Easter Week.
God bless you,
Fr. Allen
