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Text Box: On March 16th we begin Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. This week is the most solemn and quite frankly the most moving week in the Church’s liturgical calendar. The end of Holy Week is marked by the celebration of the three days or Triduum. During this week we walk with the Lord from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper with the Apostles; finally, we go with Our Lord to the tomb and then to his glorious resurrection from the dead. The celebrations of the week encapsulate for us the central meaning of our Catholic faith. On Palm Sunday we process with the Lord as He triumphantly enters the holy city of Jerusalem. We read in sacred scripture that the jubilant crowds put palm branches down before him and cried out “hosanna in the highest.” They welcomed Him with praise, but only a few days later would crucify Him on the cross. It is during this Mass of Palm Sunday that we reverently carry palm branches into the church and read the Passion of our Lord from one of the synoptic Gospels. On Holy Monday we read the account from the Gospel of St. John in which Mary the sister of Martha takes a liter of perfumed oil and anoints the feet of Jesus and dries them with her hair. This occurred six days before the Passover or on Monday. On Holy Tuesday we read how Jesus predicts His forthcoming passion and death and the denial by St. Peter.

Text Box: Holy Wednesday is also called Spy Wednesday by the English because we hear that Judas Iscariot is ‘spying’ for an opportunity to betray Jesus. It is also at Vespers or the evening prayer of the Church that the season of Lent comes to an end, and we begin the celebration of the Sacred Triduum. Holy Thursday is the day for two very special celebrations. The morning Mass is called the Mass of Chrism and is marked by the blessing of the three holy oils: oil of the catechumens, oil of the sick and the sacred chrism which are to be used in the celebration of the Sacraments for the coming year. It is also at this Mass that priests renew their priestly promises. In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated and includes the washing of the feet and the procession of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose. Good Friday is known as good only because of what we believed Jesus did for us on this very important day. He died for us in order that we might be saved and rise to new life with Him. The Liturgy of Good Friday is divided into three parts: The Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion. Finally, we come to the most solemn and elaborate Mass of the entire year; the Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection. This vigil of all vigils also has several parts, including the

Text Box: Liturgy of Light which includes the blessing of the fire, the Liturgy of the Word; the Baptism of Catechumens and reception of Christians into full communion with the Catholic church, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In conclusion, you are invited to join us for a very powerful week of prayer and union with our Lord as we

March 2008

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Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

Hospital Visits

Due to the new privacy act, hospitals are requiring that patients specifically state the parish from which they would like to receive a priest’s visit. Please let the hospital know that you or your loved one is from St. Ignatius Catholic Church and you can always call the rectory at 342-9221.

Mass Schedule for Holy Week

Holy Thursday:

5:45PM

Good Friday:

Liturgy of the Lord 3:00PM

Stations of the Cross 5:30PM

Holy Saturday

Confession 12:00-3:00PM

Easter Vigil 7:30PM

Easter Sunday

7:30 AM

10:00 AM