As we gather for Holy Week it is good to take some time to review the Lenten journey we are making as the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart. We were asked to take a wrist band to identify us when we are “off campus” and take the risk to talk with other members of the community regarding the Lenten faith journey. How did you do? We prayed each week, “Holy Spirit, guide us on our Lenten journey.” Listening to the Holy Spirit begins with sharpening our skills in listening to each other. How did you do? Our homily series focused on being on this faith journey, not in isolation but together; “To be or not to be church.” Church is not a building; it is the community that gathers as the people of God. We were encouraged to take the risk to reach out to others. How did you do?
The pandemic has “scattered the flock” in many ways and I am challenging us to regroup. We all have various levels of comfort, need, and interest levels of involvement as community. So, this Easter weekend we are going to invite you to let us know where you are at as a member of our community by taking the time to let us know where, if and how you are interested in connecting with other members of our faith community. There is a sample of the survey in today’s bulletin that we will be asking you, over Easter weekend, to fill out.
Holy Week begins with the Vigil Mass of Palm Sunday. Through prayer and our rich Catholic rituals, we have an opportunity to make an ordinary week into extraordinary week. There is an opportunity for confession on Tuesday evening at our Tenebrae service. When is the last time you went? Now is the time. Jesus asked his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane “Will you spend some time with me in prayer?” Holy Thursday will offer you an opportunity to do so. We will process in prayer Good Friday for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine during Walk the Walk. We will pray for peace in Ukraine at Stations of the Cross. How will you take advantage of the deep meaning of Good Friday events? As we gather around the Easter fire in front of the church, we have a change to celebrate the light of Christ leading us from the darkness of sin to His own wonderful light. Will you join in the celebration? What will you do to make this week Holy? Fr. Bill