Hosanna: The holiest week of the year begins with the final Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday. This day commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem. Jesus knows that he will be crucified and die for us. Palm branches are widely recognized as symbols of peace and victory. Palms or small branches would be waved to show homage and respect. It’s interesting that Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey instead of a horse. A donkey represents the humble arrival of someone in peace, whereas arriving on a horse meant a time of war. The colors of the Mass on Palm Sunday are red and white, symbolizing the redemption in blood that Christ paid for the world.
How we are saved: We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and a lot of other occasions. But the most important aspect of our life that we can celebrate is how we are saved from sin and death and given eternal life in Christ. That’s what the Easter Triduum is all about—it is how we are saved. It’s a great reason to participate. From Holy Thursday to the Easter Vigil is one Liturgy. Here is what takes place:
• Holy Thursday (April 13): Fr. Gary and I and a group from the RCIA class will be heading to Lansing to celebrate the Chrism Mass. At this Mass all the priests from the diocese will renew their vows to the priesthood. Additionally, we will receive the sacred oils blessed by the bishop that will be used to administer the Sacraments.
• The Lord’s Supper (April 13 at 7 pm): We begin the Easter Triduum with the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted the new Passover on this night, a night unlike any other. Just as the Israelites were saved from slavery in Egypt by the Passover (the blood of the Lamb placed on their doorposts and the consumption of the Lamb) we are saved by the New Passover, Christ’s Body and Blood broken, shed and given to us. We also wash the feet of 12 people as a sign of the Lord’s commission to give our life in service.
• Good Friday (April 14 at 1:30 pm): We place ourselves at the foot of the cross. We can say “yes” to the question, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord.” We have an opportunity to venerate the crossas a sign of thankfulness to Jesus for saving us through the cross. In the Old Testament lambs were sacrificed for people’s sins. Jesus becomes the acceptable sacrifice for our sins. He turns the power of death upside down. On Good Friday evening at 7 pm we will also partake of the Stations of the Cross.
• Easter Vigil (April 15 at 9 pm): I know we start late, but the reason for it is that Christ’s resurrection conquers the darkness of the world. Our RCIA candidates and catechumens have patiently waited for this day in which they will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. They, and all of us, are being saved!! Thanks be to God.
• Easter Sunday (April 16 at 8 am, 10 am, Noon and 6 pm): Alleluia!!! We celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead. And because we belong to Him we celebrate our salvation too! What a glorious day!!!
Fr. Gary: Steadfast, reliable, evangelistic, courageous, and overall, a wonderful priest. These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of Fr. Gary. I am really going to miss him. He touched a lot of hearts. May God bless him on his new assignment. We will have agood-bye party for him the last weekend of June. Please read his column on the next page.
Fr. Dan Westermann: As was mentioned last weekend, Fr. Dan will arrive the end of June to become our associate pastor. I’ve known Fr. Dan for a long time. He grew up in Pinckney. He attended Fr. Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor. After high school he went to St. John Vianney College Seminary in Minnesota (with Fr. Gary). From there he went to study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome from 2010-2014. I was with him there all four years. We played a lot of sports together. He was ordained in 2014 and assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas/St. John’s Student Parish in East Lansing (this is where Fr. Gary is going). After two years at the parish, he went back to Rome to finish a degree. We will all miss Fr. Gary. At the same time, we are blessed to have Fr. Dan join us.
Alberto: Congratulations to our seminarian, Alberto, who was recently approved for Holy Orders. He will be ordained a deacon on May 13. I told him that it’s a miracle that he got approved and that I lost a bet ☺.
More Confession Times: A lot of people have been coming to confession, so Fr. Gary and I will be having extra confession times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this Holy Week from 7 – 8 pm.
Great Book: Just finished reading a great little book titled “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody” by Allen Hunt. It tells the true stories of people who forgave others in really, really difficult times. I admit I cried a little during each chapter. As one person wrote, “how can I not forgive someone after Christ had forgiven me for my sins?”
Have a blessed and solemn Holy Week. And be assured of my love and prayers for you.
Msgr. Jerry