Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Holy Week is serious business for serious disciples of Jesus Christ. The Sacred Rites are not incidentally or accidentally longer than the usual celebrations. They are deliberately lush with the symbols of worship at the heart of which is the Lord Jesus the Christ Himself. Entering into the Mysteries of the Triduum (Holy Thursday – Good Friday – Holy Saturday) sweeps us from Lenten preparation and plunges us into the waters of Baptism where we drown to worldly allurements and arise to Easter Joy. These are deep waters, still waters, where the testimony of the apostles and disciples churn among the testimonies of evangelists, mystics, martyrs, monks, nuns, and Households in Christ made holy through wives and husbands dedicated to Christian living amongst the truly heathen tribes and cultures of “the world.” Here we join the eternal Communion of Saints to refresh our souls, rededicate our bodily existence to the announcement of the Gospel: in Christ, God and Man are reconciled. Feel free to sing a few verses of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and see how that works for you.

Our Liturgy team – under the direction of Father JM – and our choir – under the direction of Tom O’Brien – have put in long hours of planning and rehearsing to ensure that our liturgies for Holy Week are solemn well-executed. We are all grateful for their work and commitment to the sacred worship of our parish. Of course, Bob Cognat and his team do a remarkable job in the decoration and presentation of the church, and Father JM is executing his plan for the Altar of Reposition for Holy Thursday. We are prepared to enter deeply into these mysteries from the organizational perspective. We pray now, that we will also be ready to enter into these mysteries as mystery – being drawn into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.

You have all received the post card, and the bulletin also has a complete schedule of Masses and prayer opportunities here during the Triduum.

The celebration of Lauds (Morning Prayer) on each day of the Triduum is a perfect way to begin the reflection of the day and the rituals to follow. Each morning there will be a rite specific to the liturgical celebration of the day. On Thursday morning we will present to the parish the Sacred Oils that are consecrated by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass. On Friday we will observe the Stations of the Cross immediately following Morning Prayer. On Saturday our catechumens, Kim and Rachel, will be anointed with the Oil of Catechumens and receive the Our Father – the finals steps in their preparation for entering fully into communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.

Our Chapel of Reposition will be open from about 9pm – the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper – until Midnight. We will celebrate Compline (Night Prayer) at 11:45. Even if you are unable to attend the Mass, please stop by and spend time with the Lord as we prepare for Good Friday.

The Sunrise Mass on Easter – at 6:00 a.m. – will be celebrated by Father JM in the courtyard in front of the Main Doors of the Church. Easter typically begins with a pre-dawn celebration known as Salubong, “welcoming,” wherein statues of the risen Christ and Mary are taken to meet one another. Men typically accompany the statue of Christ, and women, still in mourning until they meet Christ, accompany the statue of Mary. The meeting is an occasion for joy and celebration. Father will explain in more detail this custom as we celebrate the Mass.

May the Blessings of this Holy Week drive from us whatever is insipid, tepid, or banal in our lives. May it vest us with such Grace that will make us "strong, loving, wise" witnesses to Christ in this time and place.

Father Garry