SEASON OF LENT - 2010
Lent comes from the old English word 'lenten' or 'springtime'. The season of Spring often makes us think about the abundance of new life that we see, sprouting all around us, as the Winter snow recedes and the sun rises higher up in the sky with each passing each. Yet before we can see the emergence of new life, our nasal cavities will be filled with the smell of decaying things, such as the mulch and leaves of the past year.
In our spiritual lives, we must also undergo some 'spring' (Lenten) cleaning of our souls, in order to experience the power of new life and the Resurrection in our lives! Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for Baptism, and emphasizes a spirit of penance. Through 40 days of closer attention to God's Word and of more fervent prayer, believers are prepared to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.
During the Lenten Season, it's important for us to perceive the social consequences of sin, as well as the fact that the heart of the virtue of penance, is to have a healthy hatred for sin, as an offence against God. The Church has a role in promoting penitential practices (see below). We are encouraged to pray and do penance for sinners.
- NO 'ALLELUIA' OR 'GLORIA' SUNG OR SAID DURING LENT
During Lent, God's people do not sing or say 'alleluia' until the believing community has undergone conversion, and is ready to sing this chant with renewed meaning during the Easter Vigil. The same applies to the 'Gloria'. - NO FLOWERS AT THE ALTAR
Flowers are not used to decorate the altar or the area around it throughout the Lenten season (see GIRM no.305) -
STATUES AND CROSSES COVERED FROM PALM SUNDAY UNTIL EASTER VIGIL
During Holy Week (Mar. 28 - Apr. 3), all crosses and statues will be covered over, to symbolize that none of the treasures and symbols of our faith have any meaning, prior to our Lord's Resurrection at Easter. It's for the same reason that we don't say the Alleluia or Gloria. - FASTING AND ABSTINENCE ON 'ASH WEDNESDAY' AND 'GOOD FRIDAY'
Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17th) and Good Friday (Apr. 2nd) are days of fasting (which means that we can eat one regular sized meal and 2 small meals, and abstinence (from eating meat). Christian fasting obtains its full meaning when we deprive ourselves of food, in order to be more open for prayer, to share In the suffering of those who are starving and to save money, to give to the poor. Fasting is meant to open our hearts to God and others. The law of abstinence from meat binds those who are 14 years and older. The law of fasting binds those from 18-59 years of age. -
RECONCILIATION SERVICE
A well prepared Reconciliation service can lead people to repentance and conversion. The celebration signifies a genuine return of the faithful toward God and toward one another in the love and pardon of the Lord Jesus. On Tuesday March 24th at 7:00pm, our parish will be having our community Reconciliation service, in which several priests will be available for individual confession. At our parish, I have made a point of ensuring that a priest is available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation an hour before each of our weekday masses, and from 4:0O-4:45prn on Saturday evenings. A priest can also be seen by appointment for confessions.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic adoration is a very powerful way to grow in our love and worship of God, and to grow in the spiritual life. Do you harbor resentments towards anyone, including anger towards yourelf? Are you spiritually empty and unhappy? Did you want to know God's will for your life, and where to even begin? Spend a few minutes before (or after) mass before the exposed host in the monstranCe or in the Eucharistic Adoration chapel. Eucharistic adoration takes place in our parish an hour before each weekday mass, and on Thursdays between 9:3O am-2:OO pm.
FIRST COMMUNION RETREAT AND FIRST EUCHARIST
Many of our children will be having their First Communion retreat in the church on February 28th between 1:0O - 4:OOpm, or March 6th between 9:00 - 2:00pm. Please pray for the children and their parents at this time, so that they can enter more fully into the richness of the Sacrament. The masses for 1st Communion will take place over the weekends between April 17 - May 16.
HOLY REDEEMER PARISH - HOLY WEEK SERVICES & THE TRIDUUM FOR 2010
PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY - March 28
At this Mass, the Church recalls our Lord’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, to the sound of a jubilant crowd waving palms. This Mass will end the suffering and death of Jesus.
HOLY THURSDAY - April 1, 7:30pm mass
On Holy Thursday we remember the Last Supper that Jesus ate with His apostles We also recall the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood by Jesus, as well as the importance that Jesus places towards our service towards one another, as symbolized in the washing of the feet ceremony. Following the mass, there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Sanctuary to the altar of repose, where the Eucharist is exposed until midnight. There are no more masses until the Easter Vigil.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES - April 2, 12:00 noon and 3:OO pm
After hearing the proclamation of the Good Friday readings we will be having our veneration of the cross ceremony, in which the congregation will have the opportunity to venerate the cross in their own way (such as kissing or touching the cross), followed by the distribution of the Eucharist. The Good Friday service begins with the priest lying prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament (there is no opening greeting), and the service ends when the Eucharist is reposed altar of repose, and the faithful leave the church in silence.
EASTER VIGIL MASS - Saturday April 3, 8:O0 pm
This is the most important and most beautiful mass of the year! The day of the Resurrection, when Jesus trampled upon death by death and rose triumphantly from the grave! The Vigil begins after sunset outside the main entrance of the church. After the Paschal flame is lit and processed to the front of the church, the Exultet is proclaimed next to the Paschal flame, and the church is in total darkness. The Exultet is one of the Church’s most ancient songs, recalling to mind the great moments of salvation history! The Vigil readings are then proclaimed, followed by the blessing of the Easter waters the profession of faith and the Confirmation of the new members of our church.
EASTER SUNDAY - Sunday April 4 8:00am, 9:30am and 12:OO pm
On Easter day, the readings are more simple than the Easter vigil, and follow the account of the Resurrection.
Give the Lord permission to help you to grow in holiness, and to make this the best Lent of your life!
Fr. Pierre