Next Sunday: Easter Celebrant : Fr. Williams
Holy Week
We have the regular schedule of Sunday and Weekday Masses on Palm Sunday as well as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week. THERE ARE NO MORNING MASSES ON Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Mass on Holy Thursday is 5:30 p.m. at St. Ann and 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart. Services at Sacred Heart on Good Friday start with Stations at noon, sung passion at 1:00 p.m. Adoration of the Cross at 2:00 p.m. and Communion at 2:30 p.m. The traditional three-part service takes place at St. Ann at 7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil at both St. Ann and Sacred Heart is not permitted to begin until 8:45 p.m.
I will have Confessions at St. Ann Tuesday, April 12 starting at 6:30 p.m. and lasting until at least 7:30 p.m. or until all standing in line are heard. I will have Confessions at Sacred Heart on Wednesday, April 13 starting at 6:30 p.m. and lasting until 7:30 p.m. or until all are heard. After Wednesday (during the Triduum) Confessions are by appointment only. THERE IS NO MASS OR CONFESSIONS HOLY SATURDAY MORNING.
Remember that there is NO ANTICIPATORY MASS AT EITHER St. Ann or Sacred Heart on Holy Saturday evening. Therefore, this means NO 4:00 p.m. Mass next Saturday at Sacred Heart and NO 5:15 p.m. Mass at St. Ann. The ONLY Mass on next Saturday evening is the Easter Vigil! Last year we only had one Easter Vigil Mass for our Pastoral Region and it took place at Sacred Heart. There was no Easter Vigil at St. Ann in 2021. This year it is St. Ann’s turn.
Recall that in 2019 I celebrated the Easter Vigil with RCIA at St. Ann, while Bishop Binzer did an Easter Vigil without RCIA at Sacred Heart. In 2020 (because of COVID), there was no Easter Vigil. Since I had 2021 Vigil at Sacred Heart in 2021, this year I will have the Easter Vigil with RCIA baptisms, receptions, confirmations, and first communions at St. Ann. Since we also have the services of Fr. Ron Williams (our regular Sunday associate), for this last Easter before we become one official “Family;” Fr. Williams will celebrate Easter Vigil (without RCIA) at Sacred Heart. After the two parishes become a “Family” on July 1, 2022, henceforth we will alternate the Easter Vigil from one church building to the other year by year.
Dietary Rules Holy Week
Catholics from age 18 to 59 are asked to FAST on Good Friday. Fasting is defined as eating one regular meal and two small snacks. No “grazing” in between! Catholics 14 and older are asked to abstain from meat on Good Friday
Abstinence simply means “abstaining from meat.” The flesh of mammals and birds (essentially any animal that is warm blooded) is considered meat. The flesh of reptiles, fish (cold blooded), bird “eggs” and cheese are not considered meat. The chicken itself is warm blooded and thus is considered meat. Anyone fourteen years of age or older who will not be physically harmed by the lack of meat for one day is asked to abstain.
Fasting only applies on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and then only to those between the ages of 18 and 59 who have no medical problem aggravated by the practice.
DO NOT FALL FOR SCAMS!!!!
Remember I NEVER solicit funds, donations, favors, or any request of any kind over the telephone, text, email, carrier pigeon, drone, etc. NEVER! Do not allow yourself to be taken in by scammers. Even if they have my recorded voice, be assured it is computer generated fake! It is not me!!!
Reminder for volunteers who work with or around children
Please be aware that failure to register with and complete the requirements of Safe Parish will result in your inability to continue to work with or around children in any parish and/or school setting. We have been informed by the Archdiocese that there can be NO EXCEPTIONS.
Live Streaming for Holy Week and Easter
I will attempt to “live stream” the 7:30 p.m. Mass from Sacred Heart on Holy Thursday. I will attempt to “live stream” the traditional Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m. at St. Ann. I will not attempt to live stream Easter Vigil, but will “live stream” the 8:00 a.m. Easter Morning Mass from Sacred Heart.
Please remember to access the Sacred Heart / St. Ann Pastoral Region You Tube site by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLLqbEY5hKWinwz069MVcg
Bishop Elect Earl Fernandes
The Archbishop’s letter announcing that a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Fr. Earl Fernandes, has been assigned by the Holy Father to be the next bishop of the Diocese of Columbus; is available on the Archdiocesan website. It is a genuine “feather in the cap” of the Archdiocese that Bishop Elect Fernandes will join the esteemed list of priests of the Archdiocese who have been ordained to the Episcopacy. I ask you to join me in praying for Bishop Elect Fernandes as he is ordained a “successor to the apostles.”
Reflection on Scripture:
The Palm Sunday Liturgy manipulates our emotions so as to prepare us for Holy Week and the Triduum; the highest Holy Days of the liturgical year. The gospel reading of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem is exhilarating. Then, after we have blessed the palms, we participate in the reading of the passion and death of the Lord. In the week to follow, we experience the humility with which Jesus institutes the most Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John is always read or chanted on Good Friday. John’s account is the most detailed and graphic. And because we know how the story ends, we spend Holy Saturday without Mass or Communion in anticipation of the Vigil and Easter. Why do the liturgies of the Church seem to manipulate our emotions? Well, that is what they are designed to do. We pray the Stations of the Cross so we can walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary. We imagine accompanying Jesus on the “via dolorosa” encountering Pilate, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Simon of Cyrene, Veronica, the Women of Jerusalem, and the tortures of the executioners.
I have a personal tradition of rereading Jim Bishop’s book, “The Day Christ Died” during Holy Week. Friends of mine do the “Steps” starting at the base of Mt. Adams. In my seminary days, we took turns praying through the night following the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday until Good Friday morning.
This year, make Holy Week special by following or creating your own prayer traditions. If you allow yourself to walk with Jesus through the betrayal of Judas, the Last Supper, the arrest in the garden, the treachery of the High Priest, the encounter with Pontius Pilate, and the via dolorosa; you will find that you will never look at the crucifix the same.
NEXT WEEK (Easter Sunday)
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Col 3:1-4
Jn 20:1-9
Theme: The Resurrection of the Lord