From the Pastor,
Please check the bulletin or your Lenten calendar for the daily Mass schedule this week. Most of the Mass times, including Easter Sunday, will be different as a result of it being Holy Week. Additionally, for the Easter Vigil Mass, the blessing of fire will be here at St. Peter outside the doors of the church. This should be helpful for those who have difficulty walking but would like to participate in the beautiful “service of light” that begins the Mass.
There is no other week in the entire year as important as this week. This is because Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection brings redemption to humanity. Our redemption is not trivial nor is what was needed to accomplish it trivial. We could never be grateful enough for Jesus’ selfless actions. However, to experience the fruits of what Jesus has done for us, every person has to take an active part in their own salvation. Gifts must be accepted in order for them to be experienced.
Jesus prepared humanity for its redemption during His three years of public ministry. It was during that time that He taught us to live the teachings and commandments of God. After that Jesus went to Calvary to accomplish salvation. Three years of preparation culminated in the three days of salvific activity. As a result, the evening of Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the three holiest days of the entire year. Please make those days special by devoting more time to pray, fasting, and reflection. Consider avoiding those three days whatever leads you away from being with Jesus at Jerusalem and Calvary.
Looking at your Lenten calendars, you will notice that extra times are being provided for the Sacrament of Confession. Each day, all three priests will be in the church for a minimum of 1 hour, and will stay in the church until all confessions are heard, even if that is hours later. The start time and locations of these are as follows:
March 24 – Palm Sunday – Resurrection @ 3:30pm
March 25 – Monday of Holy Week – St. Peter @ 6:10pm (after Mass)
March 26 – Tuesday of Holy Week – St. Mary @ 6:10pm (after Mass)
Although it is not listed on your Lenten Calendar, there will be the traditional blessing of food at 12:00 noon on Holy Saturday. This blessing dates back to the earliest days of Christianity and is a carryover from the Passover meal of the Old Testament. In the midst of the paschal fast on Holy Saturday, we pause to ask God to bless the food for the Easter meal. Stopping to give God thanks and asking for His blessing is “truly right and just”.
Lastly, Holy Friday begins the 9-day novena to Divine Mercy. For this novena, Jesus asked that we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day, preferably at 3:00pm because that is the hour Jesus died on the cross for our salvation. The novena will conclude the Sunday after Easter with holy hour at Resurrection Parish. I hope to see you there!
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!
Fr. Miller
From the Pastor,
Please check the bulletin or your Lenten calendar for the daily Mass schedule this week. Most of the Mass times, including Easter Sunday, will be different as a result of it being Holy Week. Additionally, for the Easter Vigil Mass, the blessing of fire will be here at St. Peter outside the doors of the church. This should be helpful for those who have difficulty walking but would like to participate in the beautiful “service of light” that begins the Mass.
There is no other week in the entire year as important as this week. This is because Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection brings redemption to humanity. Our redemption is not trivial nor is what was needed to accomplish it trivial. We could never be grateful enough for Jesus’ selfless actions. However, to experience the fruits of what Jesus has done for us, every person has to take an active part in their own salvation. Gifts must be accepted in order for them to be experienced.
Jesus prepared humanity for its redemption during His three years of public ministry. It was during that time that He taught us to live the teachings and commandments of God. After that Jesus went to Calvary to accomplish salvation. Three years of preparation culminated in the three days of salvific activity. As a result, the evening of Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the three holiest days of the entire year. Please make those days special by devoting more time to pray, fasting, and reflection. Consider avoiding those three days whatever leads you away from being with Jesus at Jerusalem and Calvary.
Looking at your Lenten calendars, you will notice that extra times are being provided for the Sacrament of Confession. Each day, all three priests will be in the church for a minimum of 1 hour, and will stay in the church until all confessions are heard, even if that is hours later. The start time and locations of these are as follows:
March 24 – Palm Sunday – Resurrection @ 3:30pm
March 25 – Monday of Holy Week – St. Peter @ 6:10pm (after Mass)
March 26 – Tuesday of Holy Week – St. Mary @ 6:10pm (after Mass)
Although it is not listed on your Lenten Calendar, there will be the traditional blessing of food at 12:00 noon on Holy Saturday. This blessing dates back to the earliest days of Christianity and is a carryover from the Passover meal of the Old Testament. In the midst of the paschal fast on Holy Saturday, we pause to ask God to bless the food for the Easter meal. Stopping to give God thanks and asking for His blessing is “truly right and just”.
Lastly, Holy Friday begins the 9-day novena to Divine Mercy. For this novena, Jesus asked that we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day, preferably at 3:00pm because that is the hour Jesus died on the cross for our salvation. The novena will conclude the Sunday after Easter with holy hour at Resurrection Parish. I hope to see you there!
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world!
Fr. Miller