From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Parishioners,

Today the Church enters into the most solemn and holiest of her days. The 40 days of Lenten fasting, prayer, and almsgiving have been preparing us to celebrate the mysteries of our redemption. We experience our Passover from death to life through the saving and loving actions of Jesus.

Palm Sunday is a day of dichotomy. At the beginning of our liturgy, Jesus is hailed as King and the crowd cries out “Hosanna.” But the cries of joy will quickly turn into a call for His death. He will find those who loved and supported Him throughout His public life have run for cover. It is with this understanding that Holy Week begins. You will notice that we end the liturgy in silence as a reminder of the atmosphere we should create in our own lives. In the silence of our prayer, we listen to the words of these days; to experience the ritual and live it anew. Though they may be familiar words and actions, we are different and we must be open to the power of the Holy Spirit that wants to speak to us today and at this moment in our lives.

Holy Thursday celebrates the Institution of the Eucharist (Mass) and the creation of the priesthood. It is in the bread and wine (food for our journey) that Jesus will be remembered for all time. When we gather to worship the Lord at Mass, He becomes present not as a symbol under the Bread and Wine...but really and truly present, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We also learn how to live as the Disciples of Jesus. As He, who is Lord, washed the feet of the eleven, so we are called to be “foot washers” to one another. The Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) will be solemnly processed from the Church to the Chapel. The Altar of Repose will be in the chapel and the faithful are invited to spend time before the Lord in silence. The doors of the Church will be left open till 11:00 PM for the faithful to “come to sit and pray” before and with the Lord in the Eucharist.

Good Friday recalls when the ultimate act of love is given to us. Jesus willing dies on the cross to save us from our sins and to give us a share in everlasting life. At the 3:00 PM Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, the Church invites us to venerate the wood of the Cross...that first altar of sacrifice of the New Covenant. At 7:00 PM, we will gather to walk the Stations of the Cross.

Holy Saturday the Church waits in silence for the first light of dawn that heralds the end of death because of that first Easter Morning. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, (which is called the Mother of all Liturgies of the Church), we gather to hear the words of Sacred Scripture (the Bible). These words tell the history of our salvation. At the Gloria (which has not been sung in Lent) we will ring in Easter Day and the joyful hymns and songs of victory. Purple will be replaced by white and gold and the stark and bare Church will be filled with flowers and beauty as a sign of the joy of the Resurrection and New Life. It is the night that those adults who have been preparing for Baptism will be received into the Church.

Prepare, my sisters and brothers, to truly celebrate these days of wonder and awe. I invite and encourage you to participate in as many of the liturgies as possible. If you have never been to the Easter Vigil, I would encourage you to attend and let yourself be touched by the symbols and ritual. It is truly a moving and joyful night.

You will notice that the Church does not celebrate morning Mass during the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday). But to mark the solemnity and prepare for the celebrations in the evening, we gather at 9:00 AM to celebrate the Morning Prayer of the Church.

I also encourage you to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) to confess your sins and enter with purity into these wondrous days. Please note that Monday, April 3rd, is the Diocesan Day of Reconciliation. In every parish throughout the Diocese (and in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn) priests will be available in all churches from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for those wishing to go to Confession. Confessions will also be heard from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on Holy Saturday. At Noon we will have the ceremony of the blessing of the baskets of food for your Easter tables.

There is much going on... and many blessings that will be offered to us. Use these days wisely so that together we may encounter the living God. I wish you and your families a blessed and joyful Holy Week.

In Jesus and Mary, Fr. Bob

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord | April 2, 2023

J Stewards of God’s Gifts

Today we read and take part in Jesus’ Passion.

Living Stewardship ~ Pillar of Formation: As we enter into Holy Week, let us continue to grow closer to our Lord as we meditate on His Passion—read Scripture, pray the Rosary daily and attend the Masses and service during the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil).

The collection for Sunday, March 26, 2023 amounted to $24,238.00. The collection for Sunday, March 27, 2022 amounted to $23,007.00

Have you enrolled yet? Visit www.faithdirect.net. Our parish code is NY281.

We Care for Our Parish Community

Baptism

We celebrate Baptism at 1:30 PM on the second Sunday of the month and at 12:30 PM on the fourth Saturday of the month as scheduled. Please call the Parish Office at least one month in advance to see if a date is available and to arrange to fill out pre-baptismal paperwork. New parents are required to attend a Baptism preparation session held once every month. Those chosen as sponsors for Baptism should lead lives in harmony with the Catholic faith and the role of Godparent.”

Marriage

At least six months before you plan to be married and before you make arrangements for the reception, please make an appointment with one of the priests to begin the necessary preparations.

Children’s Education

Saint Mary’s Elementary School offers excellent education in the spirit of the Gospel from grades N, Pre-K to Eighth grade. For information call 627-0184.

Empowering Character, Innovation and Leadership in our students, Saint Mary’s High School is a dynamic, contemporary, Catholic value-centered school, combining a commitment to academic excellence and educational innovation, with a passion for learning, and an emphasis on moral character development through the pursuit of truth and discovered in faith and reason. For information call 627-2711.

The Religious Education Program provides excellent formation in the Catholic Faith for children in public or private schools. Preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation requires two years. Classes are held at St. Mary’s for Grades 1 through 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays

4:30-5:30 PM. Classes also meet on Sundays from 9:3010:20 AM for Grades 1 through 8 and on Mondays from 7:00-8:00 PM for Grades 6, 7 and 8. We also offer the option of an online home program for Grades 1 through 7. For information about Grades 1-8 call 627-4028 or email Mrs. Marie Granieri at releddirector@stmary.ws.

Parish Social Ministryã

We care for our sisters and brothers through our Parish Social Ministry and Food Pantry. For information call 365-2705.

Youth Ministry

We reach out to our teens though our Youth Ministry Program. For information email youth@stmary.ws or visit stmarysyouth.weebly.com.

New Parishioners

We welcome new members to the Catholic Church and to Saint Mary’s Parish. If you are new in the area or interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, please call the Parish Office.

Opportunities For Prayer

The Church is open Monday to Friday until 8:45 PM, on Saturday until the end of the 5:00 PM Mass, and on Sunday until 6:00 PM so that we may have the opportunity for quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The Miraculous Medal Novena is said each Monday following the 9:00 AM Mass. Monday to Saturday the Rosary is said following the 9:00 AM Mass. Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Chapel. On First Saturdays, the Scriptural Rosary is recited following the 9:00 AM Mass.