A Word from Your Pastor - March 20 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Dear Parishioners:

We have reached Holy Week!  The Lenten Season has moved along rather quickly it seems this year.  This week brings us to the High Holy Days of our Catholic Faith.  Easter is the most important Feast of our Faith.  All are invited to live these days with intensity.

Passion Sunday with the Procession of the Palms is a time of great rejoicing in Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  However, at the same time, we recognize that the crowd who welcomed Jesus turned against Him a few days later.  We are reminded of our responsibility to welcome the Lord into our lives as our King and Lord.

The Chrism Mass in the Diocese of Columbus takes place on Tuesday of Holy Week.  This Mass is proper to Holy Thursday morning.  The Diocese gathers, Bishop, Priests, Deacons and People, Lay and Religious, all together around the Altar.  Priests and Bishop renew their commitment to the priesthood.  The Holy Oils are blessed for use in the Sacraments throughout the Diocese: the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism.  If you have never been to this Liturgy, make plans to be part of it at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral.

The Easter Triduum, comprising the sacred time from the evening of Holy Thursday, through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, to Easter Sunday evening, is our greatest Liturgy.  We live with Jesus through the events of His final hours and into the triumph of Easter glory.  This is not just an ordinary weekend.

I invite all of you to be present for these celebrations wherever you may be, at home with us or traveling somewhere else.  Don’t miss the opportunity to come to know Jesus better through the Liturgy.  We all want Jesus to remember us when He comes into His Kingdom.  Let us keep Him ever in mind and open our hearts to His grace and mercy.

A blessed Easter to all!