March 16, 2008
Dear Parishioners,
Today is Palm or Passion Sunday. Christ is welcomed into His capital city, Jerusalem. In this most Holy Week, we see the events of the atoning sacrifice made and the plan our Lord has to continue His salvific work by giving us the Most Holy Eucharist and all the Sacraments which flow from His Holy Cross. I pray that you will use these Holy Days to focus on your spiritual life and the offer of salvation which our Lord makes to us. The meaning of our individual lives is tied into the meaning of the pilgrimage from the Upper Room of the Last Supper to the Mount of Calvary where Christ is crucified and finally to the empty tomb which gives witness to the power of Christ over sin and death. Lent ends with Vespers on Holy Thursday.
The Easter Triduum, the three “High Holy Days” of the Church’s Divine Liturgy, are the three most Holy Days of our year. I urge you to change your schedules to be your faith family, your parish here at St. Barnabas to celebrate the “mysteries” of our salvation. We urge our Lord to “stay” with us, and this week He urges us to “stay” with Him during these days of liturgical ritual in which we experience the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday):
8:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s SupperGood Friday (Day of Fasting and Abstinence from meat)
9:45 AM Morning Prayer of Liturgy of the Hours
12:00 Noon Living Stations of the Cross (Old Church)
Noon to 3:00 PM Please keep a reverent quiet from Noon to 3:00 PM
3:00 PM Liturgy of the Passion and Death of the Lord/Holy Communion and Divine Mercy NovenaHoly Saturday
9:45 AM Morning Prayer
10:00 AM Blessing of the Easter Baskets
8:30 PM Mass of the Resurrection - Easter Vigil
With Baptisms and Receptions into the Church
Reception in Parish Center to celebrate Easter
Easter Sunday
7:30 AM Easter Mass
10:00 AM Easter Mass followed by Easter Egg HuntDivine Mercy Sunday, March 30
3:00 PM Chaplet and NovenaHappy Easter!!!! May our Lord bless you with a profound Holy Week to ready yourselves to celebrate the 50 days of Easter.
God bless and may our Lady keep you in her care.
With my prayers,Fr. Arnsparger