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Archbishop shares ‘joy and awe’
Annual blessing of sacramental oils, renewal of promises
Importance of speaking in the public square
CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Serving San Francisco, Marin & San Mateo Counties
www.catholic-sf.org
April 13, 2017
$1.00 | VOL. 19 NO. 8
Missal calls Easter Vigil ‘mother of all vigils’ for a reason Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service
(Photo by Tom Burke/Catholic San Francisco)
Capuchin Father Michael Mahoney, pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Burlingame, is accompanied by a donkey during the Palm Sunday procession at the family Mass on April 9.
Palm Sunday: Parishes commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem Tom Burke Catholic San Francisco
A real donkey – 24-year-old Donna, in this year’s procession – is a regular visitor to Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame during the annual Palm Sunday re-enactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, usually at the 10 a.m. family Mass. “I have been doing the procession with the donkey for a long time,” Capuchin Father Michael Mahoney told Catholic San Francisco. “It began way back in the mid-‘90s with our children’s liturgy committee. At that time, we thought it would be a good idea to make the Palm Sunday commemoration of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem more real for the children that we should get a donkey. So we began the procession from the parking lot to the church with palms and music recapturing some of the spirit of the first Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.” Like the faith of which Palm Sunday is such a
part, Father Michael said the Our Lady of Angels procession, too, has stood the test of time. “I think it is still a good idea today, as children and families enjoy the event, and like to participate in the procession, he said. “The donkey stays until the Mass is over and the children love to go into the rectory garden and pet the donkey.” Lent and all of its high points remain pillars for Catholics today, Father Michael said. “The events of Holy Week have a very special place in the lives of parishioners. Anything we can do to make our commemoration of the historical events more real helps the people to understand and remember those crucial times in the life of Jesus.” The guest donkey is usually obtained from Tickle Me Pony Parties of Brentwood. Stacey Young is owner. The organization is fully insured and complies with “USDA federal requirements and standards for animal health, care and safety,” according to its website.
WASHINGTON – The Catholic Church pulls out all the stops for the Easter Vigil, the Mass celebrated on Holy Saturday. The Roman Missal, which spells out specifics of how the vigil is to be celebrated, describes it as the “mother of all vigils” and says it is the “greatest and most noble of all solemnities and it is to be unique in every single church.” That quote, “mother of all vigils” comes from St. Augustine’s Sermon 209, which is pretty old, since the saint died in the year 430. In other words, the tradition of the Easter Vigil and support for it, goes way back in the church. But there was a falling out over this tradition for a long time and only in the 20th century did the church recover what “got lost in the Middle Ages,” said Jesuit Father Bruce Morrill, the Edward A. Malloy professor of Catholic see easter vigil, page 12
French woman’s meditations highlight victory of love Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – A French biblical scholar not only wrote the meditations to guide Pope Francis’ 2017 celebration of the Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum, she also designed her own set of Bible-based Stations of the Cross. Pope Francis asked Anne-Marie Pelletier to share her reflections with the worldwide audience that follows the stations on the night of Good Friday. She is the first wife, mother and grandmother to author meditations for the papal service. In the past, writers chosen by the popes have used either the traditional 14 stations followed by pilgrims walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem or the 14 biblical stations used by St. John Paul II in 1991. The main difference is that Jesus falling three times and Veronica
Left, altar server Alexandria Cazar of Woodacre helps Father Cyril O’Sullivan, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Nicasio, distribute palm leaves to parishioners after Palm Sunday Mass. Right, Mission Dolores Basilica pastor Father Francis A personal way to honor your loved one’s patriotism to our country. Garbo is pictured with worshippers If you have received a flag honoring your loved one's military service and would likesee to donate it at noon Mass on Palm Sunday. via crucis, page 10
“Avenue of Flags”
(Photo by Christina Gray/Catholic San Francisco)
to the cemetery to be flown as part of anFrancisco “AvenueCatolico) of Flags" on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veterans' Day, (Photo by Zac Wittmer/San please contact our office for more details on our Flag Donation Program. This program is open to everyone. If you do not have a flag to donate, you may make a $125 contribution to the “Avenue of Flags” program to purchase a flag.
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