March 25, 2024
Dear Friends,
May this Holy Week be a time of closer union with our suffering, crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.
We will be open (normal hours) this Wednesday. We will have Exposition after Mass to honor this holy time of grace and to help you prepare for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper the next day on Holy Thursday when Lent ends and the Sacred Triduum begins. If you’ve never attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (10:00 am), consider it. United with our local shepherd, Archbishop Vigneron, the 3 sacred oils are blessed (Sacred Chrism is consecrated) by the archbishop and carried by deacons, priests renew their priestly commitment, and the faithful are gathered in one of the fullest displays of the fullness of the local church in all its members and hierarchy.
We are CLOSED on Good Friday. Please consider doing the (Franciscan devotion of the) Stations of the Cross. It’s a way “Jerusalem” is brought into every Catholic parish that has them. In this light, please pray for the suffering Palestinian Christians and for peace with justice in Israel/Palestine during this week. Jesus offers a better way than the violent way of the false “son of the father”—Barabbas. Also, remember that the Novena of Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday.
On Holy Saturday—the day “God is dead”—we will open at 10:30 am for Confessions and go as long as needed. Two priests will be available. There is no Mass permitted on this holy day as we await our Lord’s resurrection. If you come, do visit our Dead Christ statue outside next to the Pieta statue (on the west golf course side) and reflect on the Mystery of this day: Christ’s descent to the dead.
Lastly, First Wednesday, First Friday and First Saturday all fall during Easter Week—the Easter Octave.
To communicate with me, please DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL but email me directly at [email protected] or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. Holy Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, pray for us!
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries