St. Paul Catholic Church

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION,  April 2

Blessing of Palms for 4:00 PM anticipated Mass and the 7:30 AM will be done in the church plaza.

For the 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM masses, the BLESSING OF PALMS will be done in the parish hall.

HOLY THURSDAY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, April 6

Bilingual Mass. Adoration will be done in the Parish Hall. 

Assigned groups will be posted for their adoration scheduleslater. Anybody who is not a member of the group may come for adoration until midnight.

GOOD FRIDAY, April 7

11:00 AM Reflections in the church and there will be Celebration of the 7 Last Words of Jesus by the assigned parishioners to share their reflections;

1:00 PM Service in English;

2:45 PM Outside Stations;

4:30PM Seven Last Words (Spanish);

5:00 PM Service in Spanish;

7:00 PM Service in English

EASTER VIGIL, April 8

8:15 PM Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments of the Elect and Candidates.

EASTER SUNDAY, April 9:

Same schedule of masses on Sundays.

Lent and Easter

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season in which the faithful are called to reflect on the Paschal Mystery more intentionally. It is a time of spiritual renewal and to examine one’s relationship with God and others more carefully. It is also a time in which catechumens prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
The Church calls everyone, therefore, to a spirit of penance through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Fasting and Abstinence

In order to foster a spirit of repentance and unite ourselves more closely to Christ, Church law requires the observance of Abstinence and Fasting during Lent. (For further study, see Pope Paul VI’s apostolic constitution on the subject.

Abstinence

All persons, 14 years and older, are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. “. . .[Any] parish or diocesan institution or group which sponsors an event which includes a meal is not to serve meat on any Friday during the year”.3 Other forms of abstinence, for example abstinence from alcoholic beverages, television, video games, the internet, and social media, are also beneficial. This year a solemnity, The Annunciation of the Lord, falls on March 25th, a Friday; the law of abstinence does not apply on that day.

Fasting

Everyone from ages 18 to 59 is obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Voluntary fasting on other weekdays of Lent, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, is highly recommended. Fasting is understood to mean that one full meal may be eaten. Two other small meals may be eaten, but together they should not equal a full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted.

When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, neither the law of fasting nor the law of abstinence obliges. If in doubt, one’s parish priest or confessor should be consulted. Airport workers, travelers, and others while on board ships or airplanes are dispensed from the laws of fast and abstinence for the duration of their journey (except on Good Friday). It is desirable that they perform some other pious act instead.

Prayer

Catholics are urged to read and pray with sacred Scripture more intently during Lent, and to deepen their faith by reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The faithful are encouraged to participate in special devotions offered by the parish, especially parish penance services and Eucharistic adoration. Other devotions such as the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life are also encouraged.

The unborn children we have spiritually adopted, are now 4 months old, are 9 inches long and had their first dream. Our daily prayers are helping keep these babies alive. If you haven’t yet adopted an unborn child, you may do so, today. Just pick up a Spiritual Adoption flyer at one of the play pens, and follow the instructions. And don’t forget to read the Baby Growth Poster there on the wall. Thank you for helping save lives of unborn children.