Dear friends,
I hope things are back to normal in all our households. It’s hard to believe the disruptions caused by that one storm. Speaking with a parishioner, retired from PSE&G, I was told that was the worst storm to deal with in the company’s history. An “unnamed hurricane,” as one radio interviewee noted. How true.
One of those nitty-gritty info pieces before I reflect on Lent and Holy Week. As the world continues to evolve further into the technology era, we too will be evolving. (Over the last couple of years, a number of parishioners have asked me about this). Starting April 18th, in addition to the current church collection and envelope system, we will be offering the ability to make contributions (normal collections & special collections) via credit card, bank account. We will be formally launching this on April 18th, and there will be people after all the masses to answer any questions you may have and to help you enroll, if you so wish. There will also be handouts as you leave church that will explain both the on-line and phone enrollment process. We do this in order to answer the requests of many who look for greater flexibility in their contribution options.
Lent is just about over. Hard to believe it went so fast. How did you do? If you did well, this is the week to top it off. If not so well, this is the week you can make up for it, especially in two ways, reconciliation and Good Friday. Reconciliation, confession, is a way to peace, of clearing one’s conscience, even if it’s not overburdened. It’s a way of starting over, a new beginning, a new birth, a springtime of new life. Whatever might be holding you back from it, let it go. Really trust that the Lord can touch your heart, even if you don’t expect it to happen, even if you’re not looking for it. Jesus can & will, if you come. The Parish Penance Service and individual confessions is Tuesday night, at 7:30; individual confessions are also heard on Wednesday evening, from 7:30 to 8:30 PM.
The second way to make Lent end on a high note is to make Good Friday special. You know I’m not one to lay great emphasis on “mourning” for Jesus. The Christ lives in glory with the Father, in the Kingdom of joy and light. He does not suffer again. But I do believe that on one day of the year, Good Friday, it is appropriate to focus our spiritual attention on the suffering He endured to lead us to that same Kingdom. It was real, it was painful, no, tortuous and deserves our spiritual sorrow. Celebrate Good Friday by remembering, with the reverence it deserves. No gardening, no spring cleaning, no work. As part of it, come and remember, at the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 PM.
A word about Easter Sunday. You know how crowded it can be (especially if the weather is good). Because of this, we experimented last year and added a second 11:00 AM Mass in the auditorium. Both church and auditorium were standing room only, actually overflowing. This year we decided to go a step further and add a second Mass at 9:30 and 12:30 as well. So, on Easter Sunday there will be two masses at 9:30 and 11:00 and 12:30. We hope that if you get to the church and find it crowded already you might walk over to the auditorium. You will not recognize it. It will be beautifully decorated and the liturgy will be celebrated in its fullness, readers, music, etc. It will be just as wonderful a celebration as the one in the church and, hopefully, a little less crowded.
A final word on these special days ahead, specifically about the Easter Vigil. Once again, we are privileged as a community to welcome two new members into the Church of God, Hideki and Satoko Mitani. Their baptism is a sign that the message of Jesus Christ continues to be preached by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Community. In welcoming new members we give a sign of the vibrancy of our faith community which is seen in so many ways. I invite you to spend an hour and a half, or so, on Holy Saturday evening, beginning at 8:00 PM and join in this wonderful celebration. It is truly inspiring and when it’s over you will wonder where the time went – but it will be a time well spent.
God Bless & Happy Palm Sunday,
Fr. Ron
