Dear Friends,
We have arrived at Palm Sunday. Palms will be blessed and distributed at each Mass this weekend. The blessing with procession will take place at the Noon Mass. Having experienced a shortage last year, we increased the palm order this year. At the conclusion of Mass, there will be no recessional hymn; the ministers of Mass will leave in silence as a preparation for the Sacred Triduum.
Thus, we are entering Holy Week. I warmly invite and encourage each of you to encounter Jesus and accompany all of us as we celebrate the sacred liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (the Sacred Triduum)! The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday is at 7 PM. The solemn celebration of the Passion of Our Lord on Good Friday is at 3 PM. Stations of the Cross will be held Good Friday evening at 7 PM. The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter (Saturday evening) is at 8 PM. Masses on Easter Day are 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 AM and 12 Noon.
The Easter Vigil is truly a most beautiful and very moving liturgy at which catechumens are fully initiated into Christ and enter the Catholic Faith. We will celebrate these three Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) this year for Michael Harris. We are filled with joy that he is becoming a Catholic. At the Vigil and all the Easter Masses we also will renew our own Baptismal promises, giving thanks to God for His gift of redemption and new life.
As I write this column, I offer up prayers for so many who suffer ~ all the victims of the tornado and severe storms that afflicted Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama, the victims of the factory explosion in Reading and the victims of the shooting at a Nashville area school. Let us all keep them in our thoughts and prayers along with their loved ones.
One final note, on Holy Saturday, two items: at 10:30 AM on our front lawn we will once again host our Easter Egg Hunt for our young disciples. It is a great event for everyone. And, the Blessing of Food will take place in Chapel at Noon.
Every grace to you and your loved ones on this Palm Sunday and Holy Week!
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
