Palm Sunday

03-24-2024Pastor's CornerVery Rev. Robert J. Deehan, VF

This weekend is Palm/Passion Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. I invite you to consider bringing you children or grandchildren not only to Easter Mass, but also to some of the other liturgies of this very special week. On Tuesday, we’ll be introducing our parish community to a lesser known service in Holy Week called Tenebrae. It’s a short service of readings and music that highlight the moments that led up to Jesus’ suffering and death.

The use of darkness, light and stillness invite us to accompany spiritually our Lord in his final hours. The most solemn of the days of Holy Week are called the Sacred Triduum: Holy Thursday’s Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday’s Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, and Holy Saturday evening’s Easter Vigil Mass. These mark the most sacred time of our Church year. They hold special meaning and significance because they recall the events of the Lord Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection – that which has brought about our salvation.

Holy Week affords us an opportunity to introduce to the younger members of our Catholic community the rich treasure of the signs and symbols these unique liturgies offer us to help unfold the meaning of the mysteries we celebrate. Processions, Washing of Feet, Kissing the Cross, Lighting of the Easter Fire, Welcoming of new Catholics into our community, Sprinkling with blessed Easter Water including our reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood - are among some of the special elements of these liturgies. They provide teachable moments and Spirit-filled, memorable experiences, which cannot help but uplift our minds and hearts. They are truly encounters with the living God, which top movies, games or sports. It’s an opportunity to begin a family tradition if it hasn’t been already. The younger ones will be in awe – experiencing the live music, the movement, the incense, the darkness/light, the beautiful decorations and symbols. We have a rich spiritual heritage that is so important to pass on to our children. Memories will be made, conversations will be sparked, relationships will be deepened, as all of us, together as one large family of faith, honor our Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done for us. We join with Catholics around the world on these days to have what you might call a spiritual rally, a grand memorial celebration of the saving mysteries of our faith. And so, I hope you include plans to join in these special liturgies of Holy Week. May your participation in these spiritual highlights of our Church year bring you and your family many blessings!

God bless you!

Fr. Bob