Fr German’s
message
THE HOLY WEEK
Holy Week is a special week for all Christians.
It all begins with Palm Sunday. On that day, we meditate on the Passion
of Christ and we celebrate his entrance into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is one of
the Sundays when our churches have the most visitors. The Blessing of the Palms
will be done on the school parking lot and at the beginning of the celebration.
Then we will leave in procession toward the Church to remind us that we are a
Church on the march.
On Monday April 14th the Chrism Mass will take place at the
Cathedral. We mentioned this in last week’s bulletin.
On Maundy Thursday we will celebrate a trilingual mass at 7PM. In that
celebration we remember the Last Supper of Christ with his disciples. On Maundy
Thursday the Church celebrates the Eucharist and the washing of feet. Service
to others and the Eucharist are profoundly connected.
Good Friday is a quiet and sorrowful day. We celebrate Jesus’ Passion
and Death. The Church prays for those that suffer worldwide. The liturgy of
Good Friday is a very beautiful liturgy because it is made up of many moments
of silence and contemplation. On that day, we will have the Stations of the
Cross at noon in Spanish and English, the celebration of the Passion in English
at 3:00PM, and the celebration of the Passion in Spanish at 7:00PM.
Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil, will be at 7:30PM. It all begins with
the blessing of the fire and the new Easter Candle that will be with us in all
the year’s celebrations. Then we will listen to the Word of God beginning with
Creation, Exodus, the prophets, and we will finish the readings with the Gospel
announcing the Resurrection of Christ.
Easter Vigil is a celebration that is full of light and hope. Lent is
finished and we joyfully celebrate the Life that comes from the resurrected
Christ. In this celebration, we baptize adults and adolescents by immersion.
Many members of the community receive, for the first time, the Body and Blood
of Christ, and the ones that are baptized also receive Confirmation.
On Easter Sunday we begin a series of Sundays where we announce the
resurrection of Christ and listen to the appearance stories.
Holy Week is a great week for all Christians. Do not hesitate to
participate in every celebration that your schedule allows.
It is important to feed your faith with prayer, the Word of God, and
Church gatherings.
I would like to see the church full for all the celebrations. Come
celebrate, with the community, the important moments of the story of humanity’s
Salvation.
Best wishes on the road to Easter.
Fr Germán April
13 2014 
