Laetare Sunday

03-11-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Go on…take a break…you deserve it! In fact, the Church insists on it today. Here at the halfway point of Lent, the Church gives us a little break from our Lenten penances on this Sunday of joy called Laetare Sunday. The fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in our otherwise penitential season. The priests and deacons wear rose, the color of the dawn, symbolizing anticipation; and music, having been restrained since Ash Wednesday, is given joyful free reign once again. This day takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the official Introit: "Laetare, Jerusalem" – "Rejoice, Jerusalem… Be joyful, all who were in mourning!" (From Isaiah 66:10-11).

Now is also an opportune time to pause and see how we are doing with our Lenten promises. Perhaps we started with gusto and slowly petered out. Maybe our petering out wasn't so slow. Maybe we never began at all. Whatever the case may be, today is the day to pick ourselves up with humility and joy, and start again. A few ideas: A good confession, prayer, Adoration, daily Mass, acts of kindness, forgive someone.

Don't forget the visit from our Bishop. On Palm Sunday, March 25, Bishop Guglielmone will celebrate the 11:00am Mass, after which he will bless our beautiful new mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Join us for this special Mass. Also, be sure to wish the Bishop a happy anniversary since the day coincides with his 9th anniversary as both a Bishop and Bishop of Charleston.

It's never too late to plan ahead. Here is the schedule for Holy Week and Easter:

March 29 – Holy Thursday
7:00pm – Mass of the Lord's Supper, bilingual, church

March 30 – Good Friday
8:00am – Tenebrae liturgy, Old St. Mary's
12:00pm – Stations of the Cross, church
12:30-2:30pm – Confessions, church
1:30pm – Living Stations (Meet in front of Old St. Mary's)
3:00pm – Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, bilingual,
church

March 31 – Holy Saturday
8:00am – Tenebrae liturgy, Old St. Mary's
12:00pm – Blessing of Easter Baskets – Ste Claire Chapel
3:30pm – Confessions, church
8:30pm – The Great Easter Vigil, bilingual.

April 1 – Easter Sunday
8:30am – Mass, church
11:00am – Mass, church
12:30pm – Misa en español, Old St. Mary's
*Please note there will be no 5:00pm Mass on Easter Sunday.

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