Palm Sunday

04-13-2025Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

This Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday, begins Holy Week, the time in our liturgical calendar when we celebrate the central mysteries of our faith, what the Church calls the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. We reflect upon what God has done for us in the unique expression of His mercy and love through Jesus’ offering of Himself in sacrifice to the Father for the forgiveness of our sins. Having triumphed over evil, sin, and death upon His resurrection from the dead, Jesus gives us hope that we too can triumph over all that would otherwise overcome us.

This is made possible because Jesus has shared with us His risen life - His divine power, first received at our Baptism, and renewed each time we receive Eucharist. We are a people of hope because of Jesus!

Are you in need of hope these days? Let these mysteries of our faith speak to your heart, allowing Jesus to reassure you. Place your burdens and sorrows, your weaknesses and sins, your doubts and fears on the cross with Jesus. At Mass, let Jesus lift them up to the Father for you as an offering to be transformed into something life-giving. Allow the Paschal Mystery be a source of encouragement and hope as you persevere along the road to Calvary with Jesus, holding onto the expectation of sharing in His Easter victory. I invite you to come to the special liturgies of Holy Week and celebrate the great mysteries of our faith and the hope they bring. See the schedule in this week’s bulletin. If you haven’t been to any of the solemn celebrations of Holy Week called the Triduum, which include the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Good Friday Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, and the great Easter Vigil, you’re in for a special treat and an uplifting spiritual experience. For a brief 3-minute explanation of the days of Holy Week, check out this video: youtube.com/watch?v=qdrPhxqRP9I.