With the celebration of Laetare Sunday (The Fourth Sunday of Lent) we are over halfway through our Lenten journey and like any journey, there is always a destination to reach. Once we reach the end of that journey, we immediately begin another journey that is much shorter in length (about 72 hours), but is potentially so powerful in the spiritual effect that it can have on us that it has been called "The Great Three Days' (The Paschal Triduum). After celebrating Passion/Palm Sunday and the first three days of "Holy Week", Holy Thursday evening starts scripturally with the account of Passover when the destroying angel passed over the Jewish homes and they started their journey to freedom through the Red Sea. We then recall through the writings of St. Paul (1 Cor. 11: 23-26) his account of the Last Supper when Jesus spoke the words "This is my body" and "This cup is the new covenant in my blood", along with the command to "Do this in remembrance of me." When we come to Mass that evening, we should notice something different in that the tabernacle is empty of the Eucharist as we will consume the Body and Blood of the Lord that is consecrated at that Mass that evening as well as in the liturgy of Good Friday (which is the only day in the whole year when the Mass is NOT celebrated). At the Holy Thursday evening liturgy we "remember" Jesus' great act of humility and service when the Celebrant washes the feet of representatives of the parish and we are all called to "wash one another's feet" in humble acts of service for others. In this beautiful liturgy we sing the Gloria with the ringing of bells throughout and a silence of the bells until the Gloria is sung again at the Easter Vigil. The Holy Oils that were blessed and consecrated by Bishop Taylor earlier in the week at the Chrism Mass are presented at this liturgy and are placed in the ambry in the entryway into the Church proper for use in Baptisms, Confirmations, and for the Anointing of the Sick until next year's Holy Week. Finally, after Communion, there is a transfer of the Holy Eucharist to a special altar of reposition led by the cross and candles and incense and we are encouraged to stay for a while or come back for Solemn Eucharistic Adoration until Midnight. Regular Eucharistic Adorers are strongly encouraged to come for their Holy Hour and spend it in prayer either in the chapel or the church as we don't abandon Jesus during the Triduum as the apostles abandoned him after his arrest. The liturgy that started with song (at 6:30) concludes in silence with no blessing and dismissal as we normally do at the end of Mass. We depart quietly and the liturgy pauses until 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday). Next week's pastor's column will be a summary of what we can anticipate and prepare for, before coming back to church for the liturgy of Good Friday.
I'm sure we all know the familiar hymn, "All Are Welcome" which speaks of a hospitable demeanor that we are called to have individually and as a church community to all who would seek to enter this place. Recently a discussion took place at one of our parish commissions about the "big event" coming up on April 8. Many visitors are expected to come to the Village to view the total solar eclipse. Our church parking lot, as well as many other places might be filled with parishioners, other Villagers and visitors who want an unobstructed view of this rare occurrence. The discussion at the meeting involved whether or not we should lock the doors of our parish building out of safety concerns for our facility. This would obviously prevent people from using our bathroom facilities while they are parked in our parking lot. In the end I decided, for various reasons, to allow our people to be welcomed into our facility on the upper level to use our restrooms. We may or may not lock some of our interior doors and have volunteers inside in the narthex to welcome people and keep an eye on things as Eucharistic Adorers come and go for their hour and are allowed to park under the portico in front of our church during their hour. I believe that it is important to be transparent about the things that happen on our parish grounds outside of our liturgical gatherings where all are welcome to join us in giving praise and worship to God.
Recently, I was approached by a group of people who are in real need of a place for their Thursday/Sunday evening Alcoholics Anonymous meeting due to an ongoing flooding issue in another Village church where they have been meeting. Knowing that other churches have opened their doors to those in this program that helps those suffering from alcoholism to work the 12 step program to help them stay sober, I was inclined to say yes to this request. After consulting a number of people, the decision was made to welcome them to use one of our classrooms in the administration wing of our facility. The leaders as well as the participants will park in our small parking lot off Ponderosa Street and come in the side door by our church office. The doors leading from our administration hallway into the narthex of our church will be locked, so access to that area leading to our chapel will be restricted to parishioners who come in at night through the coded keypad. I truly believe (and hope you do as well) that we are doing a Christ-like thing to welcome those who are trying (with help) to stay sober and be productive for their own sake and for others as well. Please pray for all those who are suffering from addictions that they will seek the help they need and in so doing, find doors of buildings and hearts open to them.
Recently, I was approached by a group of people who are in real need of a place for their Thursday/Sunday evening Alcoholics Anonymous meeting due to an ongoing flooding issue in another Village church where they have been meeting. Knowing that other churches have opened their doors to those in this program that helps those suffering from alcoholism to work the 12 step program to help them stay sober, I was inclined to say yes to this request. After consulting a number of people, the decision was made to welcome them to use one of our classrooms in the administration wing of our facility. The leaders as well as the participants will park in our small parking lot off Ponderosa Street and come in the side door by our church office. The doors leading from our administration hallway into the narthex of our church will be locked, so access to that area leading to our chapel will be restricted to parishioners who come in at night through the coded keypad. I truly believe (and hope you do as well) that we are doing a Christ-like thing to welcome those who are trying (with help) to stay sober and be productive for their own sake and for others as well. Please pray for all those who are suffering from addictions that they will seek the help they need and in so doing, find doors of buildings and hearts open to them.
The birth of a new child is something celebrated and beforehand anticipated by the family with thoughts and prayers for a healthy child and a safe and successful pregnancy for the mom. I just found out that my nephew, Andrew and his wife Becca are expecting their first child in August. We are blessed as brothers and sisters in Christ when we are expecting a new birth in our church family through the sacraments of initiation. We are called to support the candidate (or if it's a child, his or her parents) in the time leading up to their new life through water and the Holy Spirit, and rejoice with them on the day it finally happens.
During the season of Lent, the Church offers various "Rites" and "Presentations" for those who are preparing for the sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil that happen during our Masses. I spoke at the Sunday Masses last weekend about the three "scrutinies" and "exorcism prayer" that is offered for these people on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent after the homily. We will, on those week-ends (March 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17), be using the readings from Cycle "A" that includes the stories of the woman at the well (John 4: 4-42), The curing of the man born blind, (John 9: 1-12) and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). During the scrutinies the congregation at Mass is invited to first pray in silence asking that the Elect will be given a spirit of repentance, a sense of sin, and the true freedom of the children of God (Rite #162). What follows are intercessions for the Elect and then the prayer of exorcism. Our Elect, Kyle Carter and Barbara Meyer then return to the pew and the Mass continues with the collection and bringing forth of the gifts for preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Right now the plan is that each of our three weekend Masses will have one of the scrutinies, so that our whole community can pray as described above for our Elect, at these special liturgies and throughout the Lenten Season. During the week after the first scrutiny and then after the third scrutiny the Elect will be presented at a weekday Mass (before some of our community) the Creed and then the Lord's Prayer (respectively) and be charged to start preparing to recite them (by memory and heart) at the Easter Vigil. I pray that many of you will appreciate that we all have a responsibility before, during, and after for these future faith family members and if possible be there to celebrate with them their new life in the Lord and in His Church at the Easter Vigil. It is a blessing to each one of us in our life in the Lord to do sol! Please note: We will have the first scrutiny next Sunday at the 10:00 Mass!
During the season of Lent, the Church offers various "Rites" and "Presentations" for those who are preparing for the sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil that happen during our Masses. I spoke at the Sunday Masses last weekend about the three "scrutinies" and "exorcism prayer" that is offered for these people on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent after the homily. We will, on those week-ends (March 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17), be using the readings from Cycle "A" that includes the stories of the woman at the well (John 4: 4-42), The curing of the man born blind, (John 9: 1-12) and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). During the scrutinies the congregation at Mass is invited to first pray in silence asking that the Elect will be given a spirit of repentance, a sense of sin, and the true freedom of the children of God (Rite #162). What follows are intercessions for the Elect and then the prayer of exorcism. Our Elect, Kyle Carter and Barbara Meyer then return to the pew and the Mass continues with the collection and bringing forth of the gifts for preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Right now the plan is that each of our three weekend Masses will have one of the scrutinies, so that our whole community can pray as described above for our Elect, at these special liturgies and throughout the Lenten Season. During the week after the first scrutiny and then after the third scrutiny the Elect will be presented at a weekday Mass (before some of our community) the Creed and then the Lord's Prayer (respectively) and be charged to start preparing to recite them (by memory and heart) at the Easter Vigil. I pray that many of you will appreciate that we all have a responsibility before, during, and after for these future faith family members and if possible be there to celebrate with them their new life in the Lord and in His Church at the Easter Vigil. It is a blessing to each one of us in our life in the Lord to do sol! Please note: We will have the first scrutiny next Sunday at the 10:00 Mass!