From the Pastor's Desk - Holy Week

From the Pastor’s Desk,

This week is the holiest week of the Church year and it has become the saddest week. Not only are people dying due to COVID-19, but we are all sheltering in place away from each other. Instead of celebrations with palm branches, washing of feet, reverencing the cross, blessing the fire, holding lit candles and baptizing new Catholics we are celebrating behind locked doors away from the people. My thoughts over the past week have gone to the early Christians during the Roman persecutions; the Catholic persecutions of the first century here in our own country; the English persecutions of the Catholic Irish; the Nazis persecutions during WWII. Maybe we need this time to reflect on how blessed we have been to live in our great country.

Palm Sunday recalls the scene in Jerusalem when our Lord entered the city riding on a donkey, and the people spread their garments and palm branches before him so that even the hooves of the donkey didn’t touch the ground. However exultant the crowd becomes, the crowd that will curse him a few days later calling for His crucifixion. As the mood of the liturgy changes, we are challenged to ask ourselves, “What do I expect of Jesus?

The Triduum begins with the evening Liturgy on Holy Thursday with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The first reading gives the background for the Passover Meal. The second reading contains some of the earliest written accounts of the Lord’s Supper. The Gospel presents Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. The washing of the feet of the disciples by Christ, is an example of the humbleness each Christian should possess. This Thursday there will be no washing of feet, no stripping of the altar, nor procession, but I invite you to stay with us in prayer for an hour following Mass.

Good Friday will truly be a sober day of the entire Church year. There are no decorations and no Mass this day. It is a day of fasting. We simply prostrate in humble submission before the Word and the glorious cross of Christ. The first reading tells of the glory of the cross, the second reading speaks of the great high priest who has passed through the heavens; the Christian mystery. The climax of the readings is the proclamation of the Passion of Christ according to John’s Gospel. John’s Gospel allows the majesty of Jesus to shine forth as He carries his cross alone. He is victorious on the cross; Jesus reigns from the tree. Following the Passion we pray the solemn form of the General Intercessions, this year there is a special prayer due to the COVID 19. The second part of the Good Friday liturgy is unique to this day, a wooden cross is brought into the sanctuary to reverence with a touch or a kiss. This is a remembrance of the days when the early Christians reverenced a replica of the true cross. We reverence a reminder of that instrument of torture, cruelty and death; because through it Christ has given us our Salvation. The Good Friday service concludes with a simple Communion Service with the Eucharist from Holy Thursday’s Liturgy.

Holy Saturday will begin with the Paschal Candle which has been prepared ahead of time lit and the Easter Proclamation proclaimed. The Liturgy of the Word then takes place, followed by the Renewal of Baptismal Promises. The Liturgy of the Eucharist then Follows.

Easter Sunday I will use again the Renewal of Baptismal Promises during the Mass.

The formula of general confession: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.