Letter from the Pastor
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April 3, 2022It used to be a season within a season. The fifth Sunday of Lent used to be known as Passion Sunday. Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday initiated a two-week mini season within Lent, known as Passiontide.
St. Pope Paul VI, in 1969, revised the Church’s calendar and removed the distinction between Lent and Passiontide. He combined Passion Sunday with Palm Sunday. Although Passiontide as a distinct liturgical season was abolished, the Liturgies continue to bring the Passion of Christ to mind, through the choices of hymns, the prayers at Mass, and the ancient practice of covering the crosses and statues in church.
The veiling of the Cross is a relic from an ancient practice when crosses were decorated with gold and precious gems and stones. Covering up their beauty had a deep visual meaning and symbolism. We also cover the cross and statue because, as the Gospel indicates, Our Lord goes into hiding from the Jewish leaders until His saving Passion arrives on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. No one could touch the Lord until He granted them permission to do so, until His “hour” arrived. The crosses stay covered until after the Good Friday Service is concluded. The statues of our Blessed Lady and Saints stay covered until the Easter Vigil. A third reason for veiling the images is that we enter into a visual fast.
The manner in which we worship God, the prayers we offer, and the hymns we sing suggest what we believe. The Sacred Liturgy instructs us. It is important for us to listen carefully to the prayers of the Mass, the readings of Scripture these two weeks; it all helps us prepare for the upcoming feasts.
Gladly, we are returning to things as it was two years ago. Starting next Sunday, our altar servers will be returning, ministers of Holy Communion will return, the presentation of the gifts of bread and wine, the passing of the offertory basket and Holy Water will be available.
The Holy Week ceremonies will almost be the same. We will be distributing palms at all the Masses on Palm Sunday. On Holy Thursday, we will have the Repository downstairs in Toner Hall after the Procession after Mass, until midnight for private adoration and prayer. On Good Friday, we will have the Veneration of the Cross. On Holy Saturday, we will have a full Vigil for Easter, with Sacraments of Initiation celebrated. However, we will wait one more year for the washing of feet and kissing of the Cross on Good Friday.
As we are getting closer to our High Holy Days, we can intensify our Lenten practices. It’s not too late to begin our Lenten fast or to restart our practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Our full schedule of Holy Week is in our bulletin; please make an effort to attend the Masses and services and to enter into the holiest week of the Year.
Welcome
Welcome back Sr. Jane and the Little Sisters of the Poor for their annual visit to collect our donations to help the residents of their home in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx. I know the prayers of the residents will help us in our life, and God will bless your generosity.
Thank You
Thank you for those who donated blood last week. Everyone was so grateful; the donated blood helps so many people. Special thanks to Tracey who organized and helped to make our parish’s blood drive so successful.
