Holy Week: April 9 - 15, 2006

Holy Week is a time to intensify our focus on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, so that we may enter the Triduum - the week's final three days - fully prepared.

April 9 • Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
We begin by holding palm branches as we listen toteh story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we sing a joyus “Hosanna!” But the liturgy quickly turns somber, with readings from Isaiah and Paul about the suffering servant who emoties himself for us; the psalm “My God, my God, why have you abandonded me” and proclamation fo the Passion according to Mark.

April 10 - 12 • Monday - Wednesday of Holy Week
The readings of these three days move relentlessly toward Jesus' passion. Prophets speak of God's covenant with Davis and of God's chosen servant. The plalmist cries out for rescue and refuge. The Gospel of John recounts events that arouse the murderous opposition of Jesus enemies. Praying the readings of these days is an excellent way to depen one'spreperatoin for the Triduum.

April 13 - 15 • Triduum (“Three Days”)
Together, these three liturgies constitute a single feast. Attending alll three evenings leads us deeply into the mysteries of Jesus' death and resurrection, and our own, through Baptism.

Holy Thursday • Celebration of the Lord's Supper (Español 6 p.m., English 8:00 p.m.)
During “Glory to God” fo this Mass we ring bells (please bring - and ring - your own!) All bells are then silenced again, through Good Friday. Only on this night do we enact the mandatum, the washing of feet. This is who we are, a church of service. This is how we get into the Three Days: On our knees, serving on another.

Good Friday • Celebration of the Lord's Passion (Español 6 p.m., English 8:00 p.m.)
The evening liturgy has no entrance rite, no dismissal: It continues from Holy Thursday, and it leads into the Vigil. We hear Isaiah speak of God's suffering servant, we listen to the Passion according to John, and we venerate the cross.

Holy Saturday • The Easter Vigil (One Celebration Only, 8:00 p.m.)
Only on this night do we celebrate the new fire and the blessin of the Easter Candle. Only on this night do wehear six readings, recounting the basic scriptural stories tha make us the communith we are. Only on this night do we welcome new members into the church with great ceremony; as we renew our own babtismal promises. On this night, bells and the joyful “Alleluia!”return to our liturgies!

My Dear Parishioners,
Without Easter, the Christian faith is a waste of time. That's what the apostle Saint Paul says: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”(Corinthians 15:17).

The reason for this is that Christ's Resurrection not only gives us hope for eternal life, but because God used the Resurrection to confirm that what Jesus said in his earthly life was true. Jesus waid he would rise from the dead. If he hadn't, who would have taken his teachings seriously thereafter?

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,” Paul says (Corinthians 15:20). The resurrection was God's stamp of authenticity on Jesus, proclaiming, “Yes, Jesus is my Son. Yes, He has overcome death. Yes, what He told you is true. Trust Him! Follow Him!”

There will be special worship opportunities during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday. These Include:
Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord's Supper 6:00 p.m. in Spanish, 8:00 p.m. in English.
Good Frodau. Devptopms 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Veneration of the Cross, 6:00 p.m. in Spanish, 8:00 p.m. in English.
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil, 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m. in Spanish, 5:30 p.m.

Enclose with this letter you will find an Easter offering envelope. Please, give prayerful consideration to the gift you will make.

We look forward to sharing, experiencing, an living the Easter Triduum with you. We wish for you and your family a blesed Easter!

In the Risen Christ,

Fr. Rodolfo Delgado, J.C.L. and the St. Philomene Staff