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Palm Sunday 
A few months before they married, my twenty-three-year-old sister and her fiancé planned a cross-country road trip to visit his family. My parents told them that they could only go if they slept in separate hotel rooms, offering to foot the bill. It might sound prudish, but my parents wanted the young couple to understand that their approaching unity was close, but not yet. Patience solidifies love. What could this possibly have to do with Palm Sunday? It’s usually overlooked, but the Gospels tell us that, after entering Jerusalem, Jesus “looked around … and since it was late, went out to Bethany with the twelve” (Mk 11:11) for the night. Who cares? Why include this detail? Jews in those days believed that the new Davidic King would one day re-enter and “marry” the city. A new future marked by fidelity would begin for God’s people. Israel’s God would be in union with His people forever. Without over-sexualizing the metaphor, perhaps Jesus refused to sleep in Jerusalem to remind us of His marital purpose. He was entering Jerusalem as the bridegroom-king. It was almost time, but not yet. Soon He will sleep in Jerusalem in the tomb and then something new will begin: His one body, His Church. Lenten challenge: This Holy Week, I challenge you to keep this image in your mind all the way until Easter Sunday: Jesus is the faithful bridegroom who patiently prepares his bride for their new life together. Go to the Good Friday liturgy and kiss the cross. When you do, let that gesture be the long-awaited “I do” to our faithful God, who always waits for us — Father John Muir 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 We are entering into Holy Week and on Holy Thursday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and part of the celebration includes the priest washing 12 people’s feet just like the Lord washed the 12 Apostles’ feet. Now as some of you know I hate the sight of feet; cannot explain why I feel the way that I do but I just feel that way. However, despite my feelings about feet, the celebration on Holy Thursday is one of my favorites and in particular because of the washing of the feet as strange as that might sound. I will explain but let me share a story with you first. When my parents and I were at Disney World in 2018 one of the places we ate dinner was the California Grill which is on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Hotel next to Magic Kingdom. One thing that makes it a great place to dine is the fact that you overlook the park and it is a great place to view the fireworks at night. We made reservations long before our trip. When you arrive, you must check in on the 2nd floor of the hotel and the staff escorts you up on a private elevator to the 15th floor where there is another host stand. My parents and I checked in at the 2nd floor and were waiting in front of the private elevator for the ride to the 15th floor. A couple walked up behind us and unknown to them, I could hear what they were whispering to each other. They looked at my parents and I and decided we were obviously unaware of the fact that we were in front of the elevator for the California Grill for surely, we could not be possibly dining there for we were not of the proper class! Upon entering the elevator, a very nice young man was operating the elevator and asked if we had dined here before which we responded we had not. The other couple on the elevator in a very snotty way stated they had eaten there many times before. Once we reached the 15th floor the couple pushed their way past my parents and me to reach the host desk first. They quickly asked for a window table in order to have a great view of the fireworks. The host pointed out that they had not been called yet and their table was not ready. He then turned to us and stated that our table was ready, and it was one of the best in the house for seeing the show, which it was indeed. As it turned out, the table the couple was given was near the kitchen, nowhere near the windows, and they had to come stand by our table to see the show. Now to explain why I like the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday and the connection to my story. I see the washing of the feet as a reminder to me that I am no better than anyone else in this world; that no matter my position in life I am amongst equals and I too can stoop to wash other’s feet. I think to myself how this couple who thought they were so much better than us and deserved the better table ended up at one of the worst tables whereas we ended up at one of the best because the host did not agree with their attitude. Well, if we go through life thinking we are better than others how will God treat us when we stand before Him? Where will He put us? My brothers and sisters always remember that is what we are…brothers and sisters…for we are all God’s children, and He sees us as what we truly are – equals.
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael

2024 LENTEN REGULATIONS

The days of both Fast and Abstinence during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrections. The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence. On a day of Fast, only one full meal is permitted and two smaller meals, which, if added together, would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast. On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged to abstain. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence “substantially” or as a whole is a serious obligation. The Fridays of the year, outside of Lent, are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance. The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty*) extends from the First Sunday of Lent, February 18 to The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 26, 2024.

*All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year.


2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal
The 2024 Annual Appeal is underway. We have $9,952.00 pledged towards our assigned parish goal of $13,435. Thank you to those who have already pledged. We surpassed our goal last year and received a rebate of a little over $1,400. We also received a reduction of $2,831 in the Annual Assessment we have to pay the Archdiocese. If you have not yet made a gift, there are envelopes in the pews and in the back of church that you can fill out and put in our weekly collection or you can visit www.rcan.org/sharing. If you make a pledge directly to the Archdiocese, please let Sue know in the office so we can be sure our account is properly credited. You can drop a note in the collection, call the rectory or send us an email. Your gift will truly make a difference. Thank you for your prayers and support.


SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS ON STEWARDSHIP
“Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’” 
Jesus told us “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” Every day we are presented opportunities to help someone. Everyay we have the opportunity to see the face of Jesus in others and be the face of Jesus to others. Every day we pass by someone in need. Pray for the strength and courage to be the answer to someone’s prayer. 

PRAYER REQUESTS

That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health. Please pray for Please pray for: Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Helen Traina, Joseph Marrone, Bill Marshall, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, William, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Danny, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Pat Peterson, Manny Scarangella.

Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
We appreciate and are very thankful to all our parishioners and friends who continuously support our church. God bless us all.
To all our Lectors and Catechists or Religious Education Teachers, thank you very much. God bless you all!
Thanks to Rose and Lenny Sunga for the orchids and to the Sanzari Family for the altar flowers and to all who help and support our church.
Catholic Charities received $984 as a result of our generosity to our Donation Bin behind the Church from 6/1/23 to 11/30/23. These funds combined with monies from other parishes enabled Catholic Charities to show the compassion of Christ through 94,019 mental health services provided to 3,665 people. Thank you for enabling them to bring Christ’s love to the most vulnerable in our society. Please remember – do not leave anything outside the bin. If the bin is full, please come back in a week or so after the bin has been emptied.

Opportunities for Parish Support

There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.


Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Praying the ROSARY

The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.

OUR ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK

WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.

Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.

***CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE***