Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

Today, we begin the holiest of weeks in the Liturgical Year with Palm Sunday. We begin under the portico calling down God’s blessing upon the palms that we will carry into church. On the first Palm Sunday, the crowds accompanying Jesus cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” We, too, sing Hosannas today as we enter the holiest week of the year—the week when we recall Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

The second collection this weekend will be for the Easter flower decorations.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be heard Wednesday, March 27 th from 4:30 P.M.- 6:00 P.M. Please note there will be no confessions during the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

The Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday is the holiest days of the Roman Catholic Church’s Calendar. The Sacred Triduum begins with Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Mass begins at 7:00 P.M. We will process to the Altar of Repose, in the day chapel, for Adoration until 10:30 P.M. On Good Friday, we commemorate the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 P.M, with Scripture Readings, the Veneration of the Cross, and the reception of Holy Communion. On Holy Saturday evening, we begin the Easter Vigil at 8:00 P.M. with the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle.

Although these days are not Holy Days of Obligation, I strongly encourage and invite ALL PARISHIONERS to attend these special liturgies. As you know, this will be my last Holy Week as your pastor.

During Holy Week, you will see me wearing the Dominican habit. As a member of the Dominican Order, I am a Dominican Diocesan priest belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic. We have been given permission to wear the habit at certain times of the year.

Have a Blessed Holy Week!