Dear St. Alphonsus family,
Next week is Holy Week! It came up quickly, didn’t it? Our parish has had plenty of public opportunities to prepare spiritually during the season of Lent. There was Ash Wednesday and all the Sunday and weekday liturgies of Lent. On Friday afternoons we’ve prayed the Stations of the Cross, followed by Mass. March 7-11 marked our well attended and celebrated Parish Mission, treating the topics of service, redemption, reconciliation, Eucharist and healing, with the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The mission in itself was a great time of grace. On March 15 we celebrated a communal penance service and rite of reconciliation. Faith formation classes have treated Lenten topics with the children, youth and adults.
Next week we will gather for Holy Week, also called Passion Week. It begins with Palm Sunday, (also called Passion Sunday), continues through Holy Thursday Eucharist, Good Friday Liturgy and Stations, Saturday Easter Vigil and Sunday Easter Masses. (see the bulletin for times). We are blessed with a large group of men and women candidates and catechumens, called the Elect, who will be fully initiated into the Catholic community at the Vigil. Our blessings continue in the many parish musicians and choirs, who greatly enhance our liturgical moments.
Passion means heartfelt love. Love from the heart. Unconditional love from God. As Christians we are called by Christ Himself to be like Him in all ways possible. May you always love from the heart, as Jesus loves.
Blessings, Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.
