Dear Parishioners,
Today we enter Holy Week and celebrate “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.” “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” We know well the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. While we proclaim these words with heartfelt sincerity we must consider how we use our words and actions to crucify church and political leaders, others who are not like us, and even ourselves. May we ask for the grace to enter into Holy Week with the desire to more intimately understand Jesus’ humanity and his journey to the cross.
Next week will, of course, be Easter. God’s love never fails! We will rejoice next Sunday in the light and love of the Resurrection. From Easter until Pentecost, our first readings will be drawn from the Acts of the Apostles, the book which offers insight into the formation of the early church and the thoughts and actions of the disciples after the Resurrection. Let us rejoice and be glad that we are a part of that unfolding mystery.
The Sacrament of Penance: During Holy Week, I will be in the confessional following the 8:15 A.M. Mass on Wednesday morning, April 17th. I will also be available after Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, April 19th, until all are heard. Finally on Holy Saturday morning, following the practice for the Easter Vigil, there will be a brief penance service for those being received into the Church on Holy Saturday night, and then I will (again) be available for confessions until all are heard. The practice will begin around 9:00 A.M., so I should be available for confessions around 10:00 A.M., again, until finished. No scheduled confessions on Holy Saturday afternoon. If you still need to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, outside of those times, please call either Fr Mike or myself and we can set up a time.
Thank you.
Holy Week Services: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be “normal.” Holy Thursday morning we will have Morning Prayer at 8:15 A.M. The only “daytime Mass” allowed on Holy Thursday is the Chrism Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of Saint Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., and that Mass is at 10:00 A.M. Our celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be at 7:00 P.M. and will include the Washing of Feet then the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the Adoration Chapel / Cry Room, for private prayer until 11:00 P.M., when Night Prayer will be prayed. On Good Friday, again there will be Morning Prayer at 8:15 A.M. Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 3:00 P.M. and the Liturgical Celebration of the Lord’s Passion and Death will be at 7:00 P.M. On Holy Saturday we will have Morning Prayer at 8:00 A.M. The Easter Vigil, the “Vigil of all Vigils,” will begin at 8:00 P.M. with the lighting of the new fire, the blessing of the Easter Candle, the Exultet, the Liturgy of the Word, the celebration of Baptisms, receptions into the Church, and Confirmation, and then the Liturgy of the Eucharist. If one only goes to one Mass a year, that is the Mass to attend! Our Confirmation Candidates are expected to attend all three of the Paschal Triduum celebrations, at 7:00 P.M. on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and 8:00 P.M. on Holy Saturday. Hopefully their sponsors will accompany them.
Fast and Abstinence on Good Friday: Good Friday is still a day of fasting (one main meal, two lesser meals, and no snacking) for all between 18 and 59. It is recommended, not mandated, by the Church that we continue that fast throughout Holy Saturday, only ending it after the Easter Vigil. It is a day of abstinence from meat for all those who are 14 and above. If there are health issues, of course, these regulations do not apply!
Easter Sunday: For those who could not attend the Easter Vigil our Masses will be at 7:30 A.M., 9:30 A.M., and 11:30 A.M. PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE A 5:00 P.M. MASS ON EASTER SUNDAY NIGHT.
Our New Principal, Mrs. Tammi Rohman, will be here this weekend to speak at all the Masses and introduce herself. We will have “punch and cookies” following the 5:00 P.M. Saturday Mass and Sunday will be a special “coffee and donut” to meet and greet her. While not the “only” ministry of our parish, our PARISH school is an important part of our overall ministry here in Creve Coeur. I encourage ALL of our parishioners to check out our school which is preparing our children so well for High School and life in the Twenty-first Century.
First Holy Communion: Last Sunday, April 7th, at the 9:30 A.M. Mass our children who are going to receive their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 5th, the Third Sunday of Easter, at 2:00 P.M., were enrolled as candidates for First Communion. This weekend I will have their names in baskets at the entrances of the church so that you can pick up a name and pray for him / her in a special way during the time they are preparing for the reception of his / her First Holy Communion.
New Elevator and Hall Renovation: As was mentioned the past couple of weeks, asbestos was found in the areas of the new construction and hall renovation. Accordingly asbestos abatement, following all of the Federal abatement regulations and clean air standards, began on Monday, April 1 (it wasn’t an April Fool, trust me!). We had hoped to still have the hall available for the reception following the Easter Vigil, but that will not be possible. However, with this abatement we will have an asbestos free area going into the future. Thank you for your understanding and patience. We are still “on track” to have the major construction beginning on Monday, April 22. Lawlor Construction was the successful bidder for the General Contract. They have a number of subcontractors, so you will see a number of various trucks on the parking lot. PLEASE be patient with the parking situation while the construction takes place. Thank you.
May we all have a very holy, Holy Week and a joy filled Easter Sunday and Easter Season. Faithfully yours,
Fr Joe Weber