HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

March 30, 2006

Dear Parishioners & Friends of St. Catherine of Siena Parish:

Our Lenten theme this year has been "Our Salvation is in His Hands”.  As I mention in my Lenten letter, “We live in a world of open hands, closed hands, strong hands, weak hands, healthy hands, cripple hands, clever hands, weak hands!! How have we used our hands, thus far?  To help or to hinder? To heal or to hurt? To serve or to ignore? To support or to run away? To console or to think only of oneself?  Remember, Jesus taught us a lot about hands. He taught us most of all when He opened them wide on the Cross. Jesus taught us that opening our hands is necessary for accepting the Cross and the Cross is necessary for accepting new life, risen life.

 As we continue our Lenten pilgrimage the Paschal Triduum approches.  Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil - together comprise our Church’s greatest feast.  We gather in this three-day liturgy to celebrate Christ's triumph over the forces of sin and death, and our calling to be a force for life and love and goodness.

Come and pray with your family, friends and neighbors.  The rewards are “Heavenly”.

It seems that for all of us it is much easier to be with Christ in the joyous times of his birth at Christmas, his entrance into the city on Palm Sunday and his resurrection on Easter. But we also need to be with Christ in his painful times. I challenge everyone this year to show their love and appreciation to Christ for what He has done for us. If one absolutely cannot be present for both evening services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, please make it a priority to be present at least on one evening. The rewards are many including greater peace of mind and heart!

“He is risen” that through Him we may recover faith in ourselves, in our world, in our God.
“He is risen” that in Him we may rekindle hope for the abandoned, for the despairing, for the dreamless,
“He is risen” that with him we may restore love to those from whom we have kept it, to those who are most near us, to those we will never meet.
“He is risen”
(A Christopher Prayer)

To all  parishioners and friends – May you all have a joyous and Blessed Easter! Alleluia.                         

                                                                        Sincerely in Christ,

 

                                                                        Fr. Leo
                                                                        Pastor

                                                           

 

 

                                                                                                               

                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                CELEBRATION IN THE ABSENCE OF A PRIEST

 

BEFORE MASS:    Light Candles, locate readings, place key in tabernacle.

INTRODUCTORY RITE:       (From the pulpit)

                (Explain the absence of the priest.  Urge assembly to unite in spirit and prayer with him and community he is serving.

                Inform of other Masses and locations.)

               

                Let us begin our celebration,  or  Let us pray together.

 

Sign of the Cross

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

                                And also with you.

In the presence of Christ, let us who believe in Him recognize that we are sinners.

(Pause for a moment)

Lord, Jesus, you were sent by the Father to heal and save all mankind,   Lord have mercy us.

                                Lord have mercy on us.

Lord, Jesus, you came into the world to call sinners, Christ have mercy on us.

                                Christ have mercy on us.

Lord, Jesus, you were taken into the glory of the Father where you intercede for us,  Lord have mercy on us.

                                Lord have mercy on us.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.    Amen

 

Prayer:   God, our Father, as we gather to pray together, to listen to your words in the scriptures, and to receive Jesus your Son in Holy Communion, help us to live as a community of faith and love, guided by your Holy Spirit.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.     Amen

 

Liturgy of the word:

                Readings for the day - First Reading, Responsorial Psalm,  (Sunday:  Second Reading and Alleluia), 

   Gospel   (Pause for quiet reflection)

   Creed  (on Sunday only)

Intercessions:  Let us pray:

    For the leaders of our nation that they may lead us wisely, we pray to the Lord.              Lord, hear our prayer.

    For the leaders of our Church that in God's wisdom and love they may be shepherds of His church, we pray to the Lord.

                Lord hear our prayer.

    For our Parish, our pastor, priest, deacons, Religious Education teachers, and all parishioners, we pray to the Lord.

                Lord hear our prayer.

    For those who suffer sickness of body, mind, or spirit, we pray to the Lord

                Lord hear our prayer.

    For all who have died, especially those closest to us, (and ________________________________), we pray to the Lord

                Lord hear our prayer.

    Please add your own intentions ........... we pray to the Lord            Lord hear our prayer

Thanksgiving:

      (Take the consecrated hosts from the tabernacle.                  Place the ciborium on the altar.

     Standing next to the altar say the Lord's Prayer.)

 

Let us pray with confidence to our Father in heaven in the words Jesus, our Savior, gave us.

 

ALL:  Our Father ...

 

Deliver us Lord from every evil, and grant us peace in our day.  In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

ALL:   For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:  I leave you peace, my peace I give you.   Look not on our sins, but on the faith of

your church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.  Amen

 

Let us offer each other the sign of Christ's peace.

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world

      Have mercy on us ................... Grant us peace

 

Communion Rite:

    (Hold up the host):    Happy are those who have been called to share His table.

 

    Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.    (Eucharistic Minister receives communion

    and proceeds to the front of the altar to distribute to the community.)

 

   (Put the remaining consecrated hosts in the tabernacle.)

 

   (Quiet prayer)

 

Concluding Rite:      (From the pulpit)

    Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good - His loving kindness continues forever.  Let everything alive give praises to the Lord. 

    We praise Him!                (Psalm 136, 150)

 

    May the Lord bless us and protect us and lead us to everlasting life.   +   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

    Spirit.       Amen

 

  Dismissal:    Let us go in the peace of Christ to serve the Lord and one another.

 

                ALL:    Thanks be to God.