Exiit qui seminat

This is a special time in the life of the Church as our celebration of Palm Sunday leads into another Holy Week, the Triduum and the celebration of Easter. There are so many wonderful opportunities to pray and bring the Lenten season to a fruitful end. On Monday, April 3, the parish will have the Sacrament of Penance available from 1-3 PM and 7-9 PM. On Tuesday, Bishop Sullivan invites all the faithful to participate in the Chrism Mass at St. Agnes Church at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Blackwood at 3:30 PM. The Chrism Mass is where the bishop blesses all of the oils that will be used by priests during the whole Church year - the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and Sacred Chrism. The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7 PM on Holy Thursday. The parish has a lot planned for Good Friday starting with the praying of Tenebræ (the Latin word for darkness) at 7 AM. Stations of the Cross will be prayed at the Grotto at 12 PM (weather permitting) and finally the Celebration of the Lord's Passion at 3 PM. The culmination of the Triduum is the Easter Vigil at 8 PM on Saturday when Angelo Trapani, our elect, will be baptized, confirmed and receive our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Along with the Easter Vigil and our normal Sunday Masses for Easter, the parish has its annual Sunrise Mass at the Garden of Saints at 6 AM. It is my hope and prayer that you and your family will be able to attend as much of Holy Week (and of course Easter) as you can! May God bless us as enter these sacred days!

Fr. Rob Sinatra