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Fr. Craig’s Contemplations
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
On this day, our Church prayerfully recalls the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery.
We have spent our Lenten season preparing our hearts through prayer, penance and works of charity. Now during this most solemn week we celebrate Jesus’ Paschal Mystery (that is, His Passion and Resurrection.) For it was because of this, He enters into Jerusalem. By GRACE we are transformed into being a partaker of the Cross, so that we may share also in His Resurrection and into the light of His life.
As St. Paul reminds each of us in his letter to the Philippians, “Christ humbled himself. Because of this God greatly exalted him.” As we will read together the 22nd and 23rd chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel at each Mass on Palm Sunday – let us ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit to touch our minds and our hearts to see how much Jesus Christ loves each one of us.
Holy Week
As we enter into the mystery of Holy Week, reflect for a moment on St. Peter and the fact that he fell into the trap of “self-reliance” saying to Jesus, he wouldn’t ever deny him. We all know, sadly St. Peter does indeed deny Jesus. Yet, Jesus will NOT deny Peter. Like St. Peter, when we avoid the trap of “self-reliance” and we approach the Lord with contrition and humility, as St. Peter did AFTER his denial, Jesus will not deny us.
A certain peace can be gifted to each of us from the Holy Spirit, when we arrive at the realization that the Jesus’ won’t deny us. Each day, we are called to ask for the grace to keep our eyes fixed on the Savior of the world. Especially, in times of weakness, temptation, fear or trial, in our minds and hearts we say, “My God is now my strength.”
During this most solemn week, as we celebrate the mysteries of our Lord’s Passion, we look to the Lord as for His strength. Knowing that His most sacred cross wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of something totally new. Indeed, the cross opened the gates of heaven. St. Peter (with very public faults and mistakes) through the mercy of our Lord is transformed into an apostle of character and strength becoming a significant part of the foundation of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
This most solemn week can be a transformative moment for each of us too, as we bring into our prayer the mysteries of our Lord’s Passion. May our Lord give you peace during this most sacred and solemn week.
God bless you all,
Fr. Craig
READINGS FOR APRIL 10, 2022
PALM SUNDAY
Gospel—Luke 19: 28-40—“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
1st Reading—Isaiah 50: 4-7— The servant of the Lord God was rebuffed but did not turn back.
Responsorial Psalm: 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24— “My God, my God, O why have you abandoned me?”
2nd Reading—Philippians 2: 6-11 — Christ was in the form of God but did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped at.
Gospel Acclamation—Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
“Jesus accepted death, even death on the wood of the cross.”
Gospel—Luke 22:14—23:56— “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” said one of the criminals. Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
PASSION SUNDAY -C – APRIL 10, 2022
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
1) Let us pray for the Church:
Father of Jesus, help each member of your Church assume the attitude of Christ, who emptied Himself in humble love.
We pray to the Lord . . .
2) Let us pray for world peace:
God of every nation, impress upon our leaders the urgent need for peace. May the violence Jesus endured turn us all away from injustice.
We pray to the Lord . . .
3) Let us pray for those who suffer:
Father of the poor, turn not your back on prisoners and the afflicted. Help us to be compassionate to all. Keep the people of Ukraine and surrounding areas in your loving protection.
We pray to the Lord . . .
4) Let us pray for those who are ill:
May our brothers and sisters who bear the cross of Jesus in their bodies know also your saving help, especially --
Betty Morici Kevin Petrusha Catherine Konen Jack Little
Joe Bouknight Margaret Davidson Carolyn Stickney
And for all who have asked for our prayers.
We pray to the Lord…
- Let us remember our beloved dead:
(5:00 Mass) Tom Rogan
(8:30 Mass) Jadwiga Bembenek
(10:30 Mass) Jonathon Davis, Tyler Bonner
We pray to the Lord . . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS April 10, 2022- Please take home a copy of today's bulletin for the complete schedule of the services of Holy Week and Easter. Our Easter Vigil Mass will begin at 7:00 on Saturday evening at which we are blessed to welcome into the Church 4 new members through Profession of Faith and Confirmation.
- All gift cards and food for our Easter distribution are due this Sunday at noon.
- Mass for Holy Thursday begins at 7 p.m. followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10 p.m. There is no Adoration during the day.
- On Good Friday we have Stations of the Cross at noon, followed by the Liturgy of Good Friday at 1 p.m. at 3 p.m. we offer the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Also on Good Friday, beginning at 10:00 a.m. the Michigan Blood bank will be here to receive donations of blood. Please stop by to give the gift of life.
- The parish offices will be closed beginning Holy Thursday at noon, Good Friday and the Monday & Tuesday after Easter.
- On Holy Saturday at 11 a.m. Fr. Craig will bless your Easter food baskets.
- Also on Holy Saturday, we have our Easter Egg hunt, which will occur after the blessing of Easter Food.
- Our Knights of Columbus are conducting their Tootsie Roll Drive this weekend in support of the mentally impaired. Be kind to the Knights as they greet you after Mass.
- Mass on Monday, April 18th will be at 9 a.m. not 7 p.m. that day.
- (Sunday) Because of the Easter food sort and distribution, there will be no coffee and donuts this weekend or next weekend, Easter Sunday.
