Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

ALLELUIA!

He is Risen!

ALLELUIA:

Yes, it is Easter, but it really doesn’t feel like Easter does it. After three days in the tomb, Jesus is raised from the dead. Yet, here we are, still homebound, with no real end in sight. Instead of celebrating life and resurrection, we are surrounded with fear of death and the emptiness of despair.

Easter is the sign of the promise and of hope for all of us. We know that Spring will always come no matter how hard the winter. “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song” a quote often attributed to St. Augustine, though not found in his writings, reminds us daily of our hope. So let us not despair, give up, or wallow in misery. Instead, we are called to be optimistic, hopeful, and faithful.

These are tough times for all of us. With the loss of weekly offering, we are making some difficult decisions, too. While some expenses have decreased, it is not enough to offset the loss of plate offering. We are grateful for those of you who have sent in envelopes, or have registered for WeShare. If you are able to do so, please consider even a one-time contribution to the parish so that we can be up and strong when, finally, we are released from our bondage, and can assemble to celebrate together the Eucharist, the community at St. Benedict.

In this bulletin you will find the Liturgies of Holy Week. You can down load and print, or follow along with the readings and prayers of the Liturgy. Here is the Mass for Palm Sunday, and the Triduum.

On Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday we will celebrate Morning Prayer (Lauds) at 9:00 a.m. It will be live-streamed.

On Holy Saturday we will bless the Easter food at 10:30 a.m. We will do so in the plaza in front of the church. We ask that you approach one family at a time, careful to keep a safe distance.

We will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday at 7:00 p.m, observe the Passion of the Lord on Friday at 3:00 p.m., Celebrate the Easter Vigil on Saturday at 7:00 p.m, and our Easter Mass at 8:00 a.m.

As Confessions are normally suspended during the Triduum, there will be no Confessions on Holy Saturday before the Vigil Mass. Confession will return at 4:00 p.m. on April 18th.

May the Lord Bless all of us this Easter with peace, joy, and hope.
Father Garry