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April 2
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April 2, 2017
Dear Parishioners,
We are only a week away from the most important feast days in our church year.
Palm Sunday is next weekend and, weather permitting, we will start outside in front of the church with the blessing of the palms. On Palm Sunday, we commemoratethe triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We hear the passion of Our Lord as recorded by St. Matthew. We receive the holy body and blood of Jesus and we depart the church in peace. We are only a week away from the most impountil 10 p.m.
On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the Last Supper when Jesus gave us his body and blood. We also wash the feet of our parishioners, in remembrance of Jesus washing of the Apostles' feet. Any of our parishioners are invited to come up to have a foot washed with warm water and to do the same for your fellow parishioners. I want to encourage you to take part in this holy remembrance. We have adoration in the chapel and quiet time for prayer immediately after the Mass on Thursday
Good Friday is not called a Mass - it is the Service of the Lord's Passion and Death. We hear the passion of our Lord asrecorded by St. John. We venerate the cross as a reminder of Jesus' death on the cross for our sake. The service ends with thereception of Holy Communion, consecrated at the Holy Thursday Mass.
The Easter Vigil begins at 8:00 p.m. in front of the church with the blessing of the new fire and lighting of the Easter candle. We process into the church and light our individual candles from the Easter candle. We then hear the stories of our Faith- how our ancestors relied on God's power to save us. The Alleluia brings great joy before the gospel reading on the resurrection of Jesus. We will welcome two young ladies to our faith, Joslyn and Emily Vosburgh through the waters of Baptism. We receive the body and blood of Jesus and we leave our church with happiness and peace having been nourished by God's love and mercy. Plan ahead to take time during Holy Week to be at our services. Your faith will be enriched and strengthened.Has it been a long time since you went to confession? You will have an opportunity to receive the forgiveness of Jesus at our Regional Penance Service at St. Mary's on Wednesday, April 5th at 6:30 p.m. There will be several priests available tobring God's healing forgiveness to you.On Monday, April 10th priests in all of our parishes will be available for our annual"The Light Is On For You" time for confessions. I will be in the confession room in the back of the church from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. You can also call me to schedule an appointment for individual confession.Many thanks. God Bless You, Fr. Paul J. Alciati