Dear Friends in Christ,
We now enter the holiest week of the year. Our palms will be held aloft in celebration of the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Please know that if you are not comfortable yet with coming to Holy Mass in person, you can stop by the parish office and receive blessed palms. I still remember last year at this time when we could not hold a public Mass and we priests celebrated Mass alone in the church without the faithful present. It was truly surreal and very sad. I am so grateful to all who are using this time to grow in grace and to realize that without the Lord, we have nothing. The schedule for Holy Week is in the bulletin and on our parish website. Please consider coming out for all of the blessed Masses and services during Holy Week and into the high feast of Easter. We will have adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the church on Holy Thursday night until Midnight. Normally, we pray in the chapel, but due to the directives, we will have the repository at the place where the manger scene is placed during Christmas. This will allow people to spread out in the church and pray from the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper until the prayer of Compline which will be at 11:30 PM on Holy Thursday. You may have noticed that the lights have been improved for your safety and this was possible due to a safety grant awarded by the state. We also have sconces lighted on the front of the church. It has saddened me that every building and area had some lighting with the exception of the most important building on the campus: the church! Now, we can greet people at night in the light, rather than the darkness. It also ascetically looks better for the House of God as well. At the Easter Vigil, we will speak of light…the Light of Christ when the Easter Candle is lighted from the Blessed Fire and processed into the church. We will sing, “Christ our Light!” The answer will be “Thanks be to God!” We will continue to carefully follow the directives of the diocese in order to do everything possible to keep a safe environment for the worship of our God. The Lord has blessed our parish in so many ways and many of you have thanked me for keeping our church open for worship and prayer; also, for live streaming the Holy Mass at 9:00 AM every day. I take no credit, but only give glory to God and thank you for your generosity and above for the sacrifices you make for your parish. I have spoken to some people who say that while they do not go into public places yet, they could not live without Holy Communion. It is very edifying. I am also aware of the pain of those, who due to health conditions or fears, cannot come to Mass and must miss terribly receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. I pray that we serve you in the next best way by broadcasting our Mass into your homes. Even though you may not be with us in person, you are in my thoughts and prayers when I offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Let us all be one in prayer. We must meditate on the powerful events that lead to the celebration of the Risen Lord. In the meantime, Happy Palm Sunday! Hosanna to the Son of David!
God bless you,
Father Szolack