Easter Sunday is April 17, 2022
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Holy Thursday, April 14, 2022
St. Mary's - Mass at 5:00 p.m. (Adoration after Mass until 9:00 p.m.)
St. Thomas - Mass at 7:00 p.m. (Adoration after Mass until 10:00 p.m.)
Good Friday, April 15, 2022
St. Thomas - Morning Prayer/Office Readings at 8:30 a.m.
St. Mary's - Mass at 3:00 p.m.
St. Thomas - Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil , April 16, 2022
St. Thomas - Morning Prayer/Preparatory Rites at 8:30 a.m.
St. Thomas - Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022
The Mass of the Resurrection
St. Thomas - 7:00 a.m.
St. Mary's - 8:30 a.m.
St. Thomas - 10:00 a.m.
The St. Thomas and St. Mary's Holy Week Lay Ministry Sign-Up sheet are now available in the churches.
Holy Thursday, April 14, 2022
St. Mary's - Mass at 5:00 p.m. (Adoration after Mass until 9:00 p.m.)
St. Thomas - Mass at 7:00 p.m. (Adoration after Mass until 10:00 p.m.)
Good Friday, April 15, 2022
St. Thomas - Morning Prayer/Office Readings at 8:30 a.m.
St. Mary's - Mass at 3:00 p.m.
St. Thomas - Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil , April 16, 2022
St. Thomas - Morning Prayer/Preparatory Rites at 8:30 a.m.
St. Thomas - Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022
The Mass of the Resurrection
St. Thomas - 7:00 a.m.
St. Mary's - 8:30 a.m.
St. Thomas - 10:00 a.m.
The St. Thomas and St. Mary's Holy Week Lay Ministry Sign-Up sheet are now available in the churches.
Is This Week Holy or Simply Called Holy Week?
From the early centuries of Christianity, Christians have gathered to honor the Holy Sacrifice of the Cross with the Eucharistic Assembly with absolute fasting on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. In Jerusalem, they gathered at Golgotha, the place of the cross to honor the Cross of Christ and celebrate the Last Supper, uniting the Sacrifice with the Sacrament.
Holy Week begins with the Gospel of the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the Blessing of Palms waved as the people wanted to make Jesus their king. Palm Sunday is also Passion Sunday as the Passion of the lord is proclaimed from the Synoptic Gospels, Luke's this year.
The Easter Triduum "three days" begins with the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper on Holy Thursday. I have been given special permission by the Bishop to celebrate this liturgy in both parishes. It celebrates the Institution of the Eucharist, Christ's Body and Blood, and the sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood) with Jesus saying, "This is my Body... This is my Blood... Do this in memory of me." John's Gospel gives us the account of the Lord calling us to service as He washed the feet of his disciples.
Good Friday is the Passion of our Lord proclaimed by the evangelist John in which Jesus ascends this throne of the cross. "We adore thee O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world." When someone in the family dies, the world seems to stop for the survivors. On this day, when we honor Jesus' death for the forgiveness of our sins, will this day be any different? How will it be Holy? How will we acknowledge Christ as our Lord? The liturgy calls us to venerate the cross and be united with our Lord in Holy Communion. We are to fast and abstain from meat on this day.
The dark day of the Lord in the tomb gives rise to our fasting on this day, Holy Saturday, until we bless the new fire of the Paschal Candle, Proclaim the Lord's Resurrection, and bless the new water for the baptism of new disciples, confirming them in faith and sharing with them the Lord in Holy Communion. It is the Easter Vigil, the greatest liturgy of the Catholic faith.
The Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday with the Mass of the Resurrection. May we live new lives focused on Jesus as we renew our promises of faith.
Christians could learn from our Jewish and Islam brothers and sisters who observe strict prayer and fasting during their respective high feast days of Passover and Ramadan. We schedule all kinds of non-religious activities to cloud our calendars!
Fr. Dean
4/9/22
From the early centuries of Christianity, Christians have gathered to honor the Holy Sacrifice of the Cross with the Eucharistic Assembly with absolute fasting on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. In Jerusalem, they gathered at Golgotha, the place of the cross to honor the Cross of Christ and celebrate the Last Supper, uniting the Sacrifice with the Sacrament.
Holy Week begins with the Gospel of the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the Blessing of Palms waved as the people wanted to make Jesus their king. Palm Sunday is also Passion Sunday as the Passion of the lord is proclaimed from the Synoptic Gospels, Luke's this year.
The Easter Triduum "three days" begins with the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper on Holy Thursday. I have been given special permission by the Bishop to celebrate this liturgy in both parishes. It celebrates the Institution of the Eucharist, Christ's Body and Blood, and the sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood) with Jesus saying, "This is my Body... This is my Blood... Do this in memory of me." John's Gospel gives us the account of the Lord calling us to service as He washed the feet of his disciples.
Good Friday is the Passion of our Lord proclaimed by the evangelist John in which Jesus ascends this throne of the cross. "We adore thee O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world." When someone in the family dies, the world seems to stop for the survivors. On this day, when we honor Jesus' death for the forgiveness of our sins, will this day be any different? How will it be Holy? How will we acknowledge Christ as our Lord? The liturgy calls us to venerate the cross and be united with our Lord in Holy Communion. We are to fast and abstain from meat on this day.
The dark day of the Lord in the tomb gives rise to our fasting on this day, Holy Saturday, until we bless the new fire of the Paschal Candle, Proclaim the Lord's Resurrection, and bless the new water for the baptism of new disciples, confirming them in faith and sharing with them the Lord in Holy Communion. It is the Easter Vigil, the greatest liturgy of the Catholic faith.
The Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday with the Mass of the Resurrection. May we live new lives focused on Jesus as we renew our promises of faith.
Christians could learn from our Jewish and Islam brothers and sisters who observe strict prayer and fasting during their respective high feast days of Passover and Ramadan. We schedule all kinds of non-religious activities to cloud our calendars!
Fr. Dean
4/9/22
March 2 is Ash Wednesday, a traditional day of Prayer, Fasting, and Abstinence. Pope Francis has designated it as a day of prayer and fasting for Peace in the World, especially in Ukraine.
The distribution of Ashes will be available during the following prayer services on Ash Wednesday
7:00 a.m. - Communion Service at St. Mary's
8:30 a.m. - St. Thomas School Mass at St. Thomas
10:30 a.m. - Communion Service at the Villas
Noon - Communion Service at St. Thomas
2:00 p.m. - Communion Service at Helia Healthcare
5:30 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
7:00 p.m. - Communion Service at St. Thomas
The distribution of Ashes will be available during the following prayer services on Ash Wednesday
7:00 a.m. - Communion Service at St. Mary's
8:30 a.m. - St. Thomas School Mass at St. Thomas
10:30 a.m. - Communion Service at the Villas
Noon - Communion Service at St. Thomas
2:00 p.m. - Communion Service at Helia Healthcare
5:30 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
7:00 p.m. - Communion Service at St. Thomas
Updated Lenten Regulations -
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are permitted. Note: Health and/or medical needs dispense a person.
3. To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. However,
May this holy season be a time of spiritual renewal!
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are permitted. Note: Health and/or medical needs dispense a person.
3. To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. However,
May this holy season be a time of spiritual renewal!
Fasting: Pope Francis reminds us of fasting that the Lord desires as stated in the book of Isaiah: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” Pope Francis: "fast from hurting words and say kind words; fast from pressures and be prayerful; fast from grudges and be reconciled; fast from bitterness and be filled with joy."
Fr. Dean, 2/19/2021
Fr. Dean, 2/19/2021