Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This weekend we arrive at almost the end of our Lenten season. We have a few more days to go, but we are almost there!
I am sure that we are busy getting ready for Easter Sunday. While there is not the same kind of business that we have in December, we will still usually visit family and have a nice Easter dinner, so there is shopping and house cleaning to be done, but what about our hearts? Are our hearts ready to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord? Are we ready to renew our baptismal promises at Easter Mass?
We are facing the most holy days of the year in the week ahead. Let us keep the spirit of this Holy Week and continue to journey with Jesus during his final moments on earth as we hold back a few more days, so that we may begin our Easter celebrations and rejoicing.
This weekend we begin with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. We hear in the first gospel before I even process into the church, how the people were crying out to Jesus and saying Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Soon after we hear the cries of joy at the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem. We hear the narration of Jesus’ final moments as he is arrested in the garden, put on trial before Pontius Pilot, led up to Calvary and ultimately dies on the cross. After three days, he rises from the dead and our Easter celebrations begin.
On Thursday, we will celebrate Holy Thursday at 7:00 pm. At this Mass we celebrate and remember the institution of the Priesthood and the Institution of the Eucharist where Jesus gives us his body and blood. At the end of this celebration we will have some time for prayer and reflection before Jesus and the blessed sacrament.
On Good Friday, we will have the Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion at 3:00 pm in English and 7 pm in Spanish. On Saturday, we will have the Easter Vigil at 8:30 pm.
In Christ,
Fr. James
Confessions
Wednesday, March 29th and Thursday, March 30th at 5 PM at Sacred Heart Church
Confessions are also scheduled for Saturday, April 1st at 3 PM, again at Sacred Heart Church.
Holy Week
Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Easter Celebrations:
+ Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be at 7 PM at Sacred Heart Church.
+ Good Friday Service at 3 PM in English and 7 PM in Spanish
+ The Great Easter Vigil will be at 8:30 PM
+ Easter Sunday Mass at St. Louis at 8:00 AM and Mass at Sacred Heart at 9:30 AM.
At all the Masses March 4 and 5, an update was provided on the capital improvement projects for the Sacred Heart building complex. Pledge cards were handed out along with a description of the projects, costs, and timelines on completion depending on the success of our fundraising effort. A letter along with pledge cards and donation envelopes will be mailed to all registered parishioners. If you do not receive your letter, please can contact the parish office. Donation envelopes are also available in the back of church at both Sacred Heart and St. Louis. Below is a list of the four prioritized projects and estimated costs. We hope to complete the following projects over the next three years.
Painting of the gym- $12,000. Funds have been acquired during Christmas giving and work has begun.
Open house meetings will be held at the Sacred Heart Church on March 16th at 4 pm and again at 7 pm to discuss the projects, answer questions, and obtain input and assistance from the parishioners.
Thank you for your continuous support of Sacred Heart-St. Louis Parish.
In Christ, Father James Herrera and Finance Council; Larry Schiedler, Kent Belleque, Frank Davidson, Laura Hagenauer, Marty Miller.
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