To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, Parish:
Restructuring: Last week I encouraged you to visit the diocesan microsite that details the latest parish restructuring plan: www.eriercd.org/planning.html. Although the 4 churches in our area (Holy Redeemer, St. Anthony, St. Joseph, and St. Luke) are not currently slated for any changes, we know that change will almost undoubtedly be coming in the years ahead. Fr. Rick and I have talked on more than one occasion that a minimum of two priests are needed in our region. How long can the bishop provide two priests? We don’t know. It’s becoming more difficult for the bishop to provide sufficient pastoral care throughout the 13 counties of our diocese. Remember that Bishop Persico wants to receive your input. There are survey questions available at the above website. I, too, would like to hear from you. I, on behalf of the parish, must submit a response to the proposed pastoral plan by April 21. Please email me or drop me a note with your comments, insights, and suggestions as to how we can best proclaim the Gospel message now and in the years ahead. Even as things change all around us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever (Heb 13:8).” He is our hope. He is our peace. He is our life. Holy Week and the Easter Triduum: The sacred time we know as “Holy Week” begins with this weekend’s Mass of our Lord’s Passion. Please observe these days with reverence and awe. These are the days in which our salvation was won at the price of the cross. Thank you, Jesus! All praise is yours! I warmly invite you to share in our Lord’s Paschal Mystery by being here at church for the Easter Triduum. During the Mass of the Lord’s supper on Holy Thursday evening, we will share with Jesus in his last supper, accompany him to the garden of Gethsemane, and here at the parish, spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in quiet prayer. On Good Friday, we will join Jesus as he carries his cross – and our sins – up the royal road to Calvary. There we will mourn his death. There we will lay down our burdens. Holy Saturday is a day of strange stillness. We will find ourselves watching and waiting at the tomb of Christ with our Blessed Mother and with the Church throughout the world. Although it will begin in darkness, the Easter Vigil celebration will end by being bathed in light, as new life is given by God to our catechumens and candidates. And on Easter Sunday morning, we will share in Mary Magdalene’s incredible announcement: I have seen the Risen Lord! We are offering a new opportunity for prayer during the Triduum: a coming together to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Check the parish schedule to see when those prayers will be offered. Please make these Holy Week liturgies a priority for you and your family. They are beautiful and profound. I look forward to celebrating these days with you. New Liturgical Vestments: It took three months for them to be crafted and delivered, but our new matching set of liturgical vestments has arrived! The red chausable (the priest outer vestment at Mass) is making its first parish appearance this weekend. And wait until you see Deacon Ray in his new dalmatic. I’m pretty sure that Deacon Fashion Magazine is going to want him on the cover! We purchased these vestments from the monks at the Holy Rood Guild. I hope you find them as beautiful as I do! Mary, Mother of the Holy Redeemer – Pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us! St. Anthony – Pray for us! St. Joseph – Pray for us! Fr. Steve