Friday, April 8, 2011

Confessions & Holy Week

Reconciliation

This coming week we will be offering extra opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. One will be a communal celebration at St. Patrick’s on Tuesday at 7:00 PM followed by another at St. Anne’s on Thursday at 7:00 PM. We will offer our last opportunity for individual confessions on Fri- day from Noon to 2:00 PM at St. Anne. Please make use of this awesome gift given to the Church by Christ. It can change your whole life.


Holy Week

Next week begins Holy Week. The first of those celebrations is held at the cathedral in Portland, the Chrism Mass where all the priests join in renewing their priestly ministry and the holy oils are blessed. If you’ve never been to this celebration, it is a must see and participate event! What follows is our Holy Thursday Mass where we commemorate the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. The oils previously blessed by the Archbishop will be presented, members of the parish will have their feet washed, and a solemn process of the Blessed Sacrament will take place with adoration to follow. On Good Friday, I and Fr. Dominic will be participating in an ecumenical stations of the cross service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. After the stations, I have been invited to preach a sermon. All are welcome. Later that night, we will offer our own Good Friday Service with the passion narrative proclaimed followed by veneration of the cross and communion. It all culminates with Holy Saturday where our Elect will be plunged into the baptismal waters, many by immersion. Those who had been previously baptized in another Christian tradition will declare their profession of faith in the Catholic Tradition and join the Elect to be confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time.


Please note the times for all our Easter Masses, and invite a friend or neighbor to come home for Easter to simply join you for the celebration. After the 11:00 AM Mass, we will be offer- ing an Easter egg hunt for the children.


All these events are for the glory of God and our own journey of faith. May God who suffered and died for us all raise us up with all those who have gone before us.


Blessings,


Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor