My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This weekend we begin the solemn two-week period known as Passiontide. We are brought more intimately into meditating upon the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection as we prepare for the Sacred Triduum which will soon be upon us. Let us enter into these Sacred Mysteries with hearts full of love and gratitude for all that the Lord has done for us.
Good Friday is an ecclesiastical fast day. This means one full and two partial meals for those who are bound to the fasting regulation and no meat. There will also be the annual special collection for the Holy Land to help the Christians there and to keep the sacred shrines open and in good repair.
On Good Friday the church will be open from Noon on and there will be solemn Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m. The schedule is also in the bulletin and posted on the board regarding the times for the celebrations throughout the Triduum.
The Capital Campaign for the diocese will be launched after Easter. We are in the first phase of parishes that will be starting. Our goal has been set at $730,000.00. If we make that we will get about $150,000.00 back for the parish. There will be more on this as the time gets closer and the details are worked out. Keep watching the bulletin for updates. Right now, there is a committee in place headed by Justin Doyle, and it is working with the diocese to put our plans into action. Please also make your pledge for the annual ADA 2022 so that we can make progress towards our goal.
Let us go forward in these final sacred days of Lent preparing well for Easter and trusting Divine Providence in all things. Let us use our time wisely and give sufficient time for prayer, fasting and alms giving for the remainder of the Lenten Season. This Lenten Season is a good time to examine your spiritual lives and your relationship with the Lord. A good confession is in order to prepare for Easter. Again, my sincere thanks for your generosity and all you do for the parish.
Devotedly yours in the Lord,
(The Very Reverend) Aquinas M. Nichols
Pastor