As we prepare to celebrate the Easter Triduum and reflect on what all this means during the 50-day Easter Season, I'm thinking about the apostles and what happened to them from the time of the Last Supper through the Crucifixion, Resurrection and after The Holy Spirit came to them at Pentecost. its' easy for me to believe that they could have echoed the words of Elvis Presley in one of his famous songs: "I'm All Shook Up." Once they were "shook up," they never were the same. Sometimes it is good for all of us to be "shook up" by the Lord, or others, and be challenged to embrace something new.
In the hope of getting more of our parishioners to experience the Lord more intimately and more often in the Eucharistic Celebration (The Mass), I have decided to change the daily Mass DURING THE EASTER SEASON to 8:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. I realize this "shakes up" the routine of our regular daily Mass participants AND ME, but I want to see if it might lead more of you to come to daily Mass for the experience of encountering Jesus and His many graces through His Word and His Body and Blood. I will evaluate (with the help of the daily Mass participants) whether to leave the daily Mass schedule this new way - or change it back to 9:00 a.m. once Easter Season is over.
I am confident that those who already appreciate the value of coming to Mass more often than the weekend (some every day) will make this sacrifice and will pray with me that more of their fellow parishioners will take advantage of something that is not offered, or not offered as much, in other parishes, "Daily Mass." It will mean a conscious "shaking up" of our routine at least once a week, and I'm hoping our Lenten journey has inspired us to draw ever close to the Lord and His Kingdom. The Mass in one tremendous way to do this!
This is my last chance, in writing, to encourage your participation in the Easter Triduum, both in Church and at home. Starting on Thursday evening (with Mass of the Lord's Supper) through the celebration of the Easter Vigil, give this time to the Lord and try to refrain from normal secular activities. Remember the mandatory fast for those ages 18-59 on Good Friday and abstinence from meat on Good Friday for those 14 years of age and older. Opportunities abound for personal and public prayer and reflection at church. Know that any time spent with and for the Lord in meditation on the great gift of hs Passion, Death and Resurrection will be rewarded with many blessings for you and your family and those whose lives you touch and that touch you in the future. Also, it would be great to have good participation in the Easter Vigil as we welcome Nathan Rust into the Church through the sacraments of initiation (and have a reception with cake, punch and coffee for Nathan after the Easter Vigil Mass).
In the hope of getting more of our parishioners to experience the Lord more intimately and more often in the Eucharistic Celebration (The Mass), I have decided to change the daily Mass DURING THE EASTER SEASON to 8:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. I realize this "shakes up" the routine of our regular daily Mass participants AND ME, but I want to see if it might lead more of you to come to daily Mass for the experience of encountering Jesus and His many graces through His Word and His Body and Blood. I will evaluate (with the help of the daily Mass participants) whether to leave the daily Mass schedule this new way - or change it back to 9:00 a.m. once Easter Season is over.
I am confident that those who already appreciate the value of coming to Mass more often than the weekend (some every day) will make this sacrifice and will pray with me that more of their fellow parishioners will take advantage of something that is not offered, or not offered as much, in other parishes, "Daily Mass." It will mean a conscious "shaking up" of our routine at least once a week, and I'm hoping our Lenten journey has inspired us to draw ever close to the Lord and His Kingdom. The Mass in one tremendous way to do this!
This is my last chance, in writing, to encourage your participation in the Easter Triduum, both in Church and at home. Starting on Thursday evening (with Mass of the Lord's Supper) through the celebration of the Easter Vigil, give this time to the Lord and try to refrain from normal secular activities. Remember the mandatory fast for those ages 18-59 on Good Friday and abstinence from meat on Good Friday for those 14 years of age and older. Opportunities abound for personal and public prayer and reflection at church. Know that any time spent with and for the Lord in meditation on the great gift of hs Passion, Death and Resurrection will be rewarded with many blessings for you and your family and those whose lives you touch and that touch you in the future. Also, it would be great to have good participation in the Easter Vigil as we welcome Nathan Rust into the Church through the sacraments of initiation (and have a reception with cake, punch and coffee for Nathan after the Easter Vigil Mass).