From the Desk of Father Tharp

Pastoral Region (St. Ann / Sacred Heart) Penance Service

The Lenten Penance Service for St. Ann and Sacred Heart (many priests available to hear confessions) will be this Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church location.   We will have numerous priests available to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  This is the week before Holy Week.   During Holy Week lines are sure to be long.  Multiple priests will be available to hear confessions.

No Confessions Tuesday April 16!!!

As the Dean of the Hamilton Deanery, it is my duty to receive and distribute the newly blest Holy Oils to the pastors of the Hamilton Deanery.  The Archbishop will celebrate the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 16 at the Cathedral.  As in previous years, there will be NO (6:30 p.m.) EVENING CONFESSIONS on Tuesday of Holy Week. 

Easter Vigil at St. Ann and Sacred Heart

I am truly blest by the friendship of our Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer, who has once again agreed to help cover the Easter vigil celebrations for our pastoral region.  Obviously as one old pastor (Fr. Tharp) who has never figured out how to bi-locate, I cannot be two places at once.  This year, most of the candidates and catechumens are associated with St. Ann.  Since I have led them through the RCIA process, I will therefore celebrate the Easter Vigil at St. Ann at 8:45 p.m. and bring our new members into the Church.  Bishop Binzer has agreed to celebrate the Easter Vigil at Sacred Heart at 8:45 p.m. so that both parish locations can again have their own Easter Vigil celebration.   I am very grateful to Bishop Binzer.

Holy Week Schedule

Morning Masses on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be as usual.  No Mass is permitted on Holy Thursday morning.  I will have the Mass of the Last Supper at St. Ann at 5:30 p.m. and the same Mass at Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m.  No Mass is allowed on Good Friday morning.  I will have the Three Hour Good Friday Service at Sacred Heart from 12:00 noon to about 2:45 p.m.  I will have the Evening Good Friday Service at St. Ann starting at 7:00 p.m.  Fr. Schmitz will have a Good Friday evening Service at Sacred Heart.  There are no Masses or regular Confessions on Saturday morning at either parish location.  Easter Vigil at both locations will begin at 8:45 p.m. which is the earliest time allowed by Liturgical Law.  THEREFORE REMEMBER NO EVENING MASSES ON HOLY SATURDAY AT ANY CATHOLIC CHURCH UNTIL THE TIME OF THE EASTER VIGIL.

Schedule for Holy Week

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

6:30 a.m. at St. Ann    7:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart

    (Confessions at St. Ann 5:00-6:30 p.m.)

Holy Thursday

No morning Masses

5:30 Mass of Last Supper at St. Ann

7:30 Mass of Last Supper at Sacred Heart

     (Confessions SHJ after 7:30 p.m. Mass)

Good Friday

No morning Services

Tre-Ore Service at Sacred Heart

   Includes Stations at 12:00 p.m.

   Sung Passion and Meditation (1:00-2:00 p.m.)

   Adoration of the Cross (2:00 – 2:20 p.m.)

   Distribution of Holy Communion and mediation (2:20-3:00 p.m.)

Traditional Three Part Service 7:00-8:10 p.m. at St. Ann

Traditional Three Part Service 7:00-8:10 p.m. at Sacred Heart

Holy Saturday

   No morning Masses or services

    No Saturday Afternoon (anticipatory) Masses

   Easter Vigil at St. Ann (Fr. Tharp) begins at 8:45 p.m.

   Easter Vigil at Sacred (Bishop Binzer) begins at 8:45 p.m.

Easter Sunday Masses at both St. Ann and Sacred Heart

            NORMAL SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE

Divine Mercy Sunday

Because of First Communion at St. Ann on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m., the pastoral region (St. Ann and Sacred Heart) Divine Mercy Celebration will be at St. Ann but the time will be moved to 4:00 p.m.

Reflection on Scripture

The Palm Sunday liturgy takes us from the “high” of celebrating the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the “low” of the reading of the Passion according to St. Luke. 

Note on disposal of palms and other blessed objects: 

Palms are blessed sacramental objects (not Sacraments) that should not simply be thrown in the garbage.  If you have a garden, break them up and bury or plow them under the garden soil.  You can also carefully burn them.  This does not produce “holy smoke,” but the ashes can then be disposed of in your yard.  Organic sacramental may be disposed of in this way.  Other religious objects should be fragmented so they cannot be used sacrilegiously.  Then the remains can be appropriately discarded.

Next Weekend: Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Col 3:1-4

Jn 20:1-9

Theme: Resurrection