From the Pastor's Pen - Holy Week

We’re Here. Yes, already, at the Holiest Week. Our parish is in a good spirit, with a good outlook. We have to look at why: every week at Mass, and daily in our own ways, we join Jesus in the pattern of his suffering, death and resurrection, and it’s bringing us life. This is the spirit of the whole week ahead of us. This week is unique in all the year, to focus on, and walk with Jesus in, his death and resurrection. Today we enter Holy Week and the Sacred Easter Triduum, the Three Days.

It’s wisdom of the church, I guess, that these are not Holy Days of Obligation (except for Easter Sunday). But, there is no other time to experience the church’s life and beliefs so directly. Thursday in the Mass of the Lord's Supper, Christ shows the spirit of love and service by the washing of feet. On Good Friday, we humbly receive the gift of his life. Saturday at the Easter Vigil, we "pull out all stops" to celebrate in light, in word, in life-giving baptismal water, and food, the presence of the Risen Christ. We will renew our Baptism, and we’re blessed this year with New Life people:

We will receive baptized Christians Robert Bauer, Stephanie Joshua, and Mary Owen, into Catholic

Communion, and share Confirmation and First Eucharist with them.

We will baptize Jessica Woodruff, and share Eucharist and Confirmation with her, and baptize her daughter Isabella.

Each of the services is about an hour to an hour and a half. We must join Jesus closely somehow these days. Participating in these services is the prime way. Children especially enjoy the Triduum (three day) services, because symbols are used that are not our usual routine. If you can’t be with us for these services, find some way to unite with Jesus in his passage.

I’m already going into the mode of an annual Paschal Retreat. To experience the depth of these rich days, and especially to share The Word with you in preaching, Fr. Nickolai and I will not be doing “business as usual” this week. Please hold off what can wait till Easter Tuesday. Please support us and our other ministers and staff in this, and join us in these services if possible. We’ll see what new spirit we have as we resume “usual business” in the long season after Easter.