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Dear St. Christopher Parish Family,
I hope you are all doing well, and you are finding peace in these times. Perhaps you have even made new discoveries in faith and perseverance, as we all push the pause button on our daily routines.Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge
till the storms of destruction pass by (Psalm 57:1).I strongly encourage all of you to stay focused during the coming wonderful days of our Liturgical year. We will be providing as much opportunity as we can to aid your participation in the Holy Week and Easter celebrations. As your pastoral father-in-spirit, I would like each of you to take part in these services.
This Sunday, April 5th is Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Our Bishop Edward Weisenburger makes this recommendation:
Due to Covid-19 this Palm Sunday we are omitting the blessings of palm branches. However, we can put a green branch (any greenery) ON OUR DOORS to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, remembering the Triumphant Entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem. This is not taking the place of the tradition of blessing palms, but it will be a beautiful sign of our unity as a Church and of our reverence to our most important week of our faith. Separated by distance, united in Love and Faith.
Please tune in online for the live-stream of the Palm Sunday Mass. We will broadcast at 10:00 AM in English, followed by 11:30 AM in Spanish.
Also, I will bless your families and your green branches with the Blessed Sacrament from the church rooftop following the 11:30am Mass. (Please stay at home and trust the Spiritual Power of Our Lord)
The Easter Triduum continues on Holy Thursday evening, April 9th, with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We will live-stream this bi-lingual Mass beginning at 6:00 PM. The Mass will be immediately followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which will take place in the church parking lot. I pray that you will accompany Jesus in his night of passion in the garden. All are invited to drive-thru as I bless your families with the Eucharist from the Grotto Shrine at the corner of the parking lot. In accord with health recommendations, please do not exit your cars.
This will be followed by Good Friday services. Did you know that Good Friday is the one day of the year when the Church forbids the celebration of the Mass? Our services will be bi-lingual and live-streamed beginning at 6:00 PM with the celebration of The Lord’s Passion and Adoration of the Holy Cross. This is followed at 7:30 PM with the Meditations on the Last Seven Words of Jesus and then the praying of the Rosary.
Easter then begins with the High Mass of the Church year, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. This will also be live-streamed and bi-lingual beginning at 6:00 PM. Then there will be live-streamed Masses on Easter Day, Sunday at 10:00 AM in English and 11:30 AM in Spanish. I expect all of you will want to tune in for one of these Masses in celebration of The Resurrection!
May God the Father, your Creator, impart faith to you,
That you may believe with heart, mind, soul, and strength;
And that you may trust him for provision and protection.
May God the Son, your Savior, reveal and impart love to you,
That you may love with heart, mind, soul, and strength;
And that you may serve God and neighbor, placing their needs above your own.
May God the Spirit, your Teacher, impart hope to you,
That you may hope with heart, mind, soul, and strength;
And that you may long for the heavenly home that Christ is preparing.
May God bless you to walk forever in faith, hope, and love.
In Christ,
Fr. Edson Elizarraras
Don’t forget to smile!
