Today is Palm Sunday. Today also is the beginning of Holy Week. This is the most important week in the Church’s life. Why? Because on this week we commemorate the fact that Christ the second person of the Blessed Trinity died and rose for all. And we are told and taught that when we celebrate these days in church they become present to us again. Our celebration in the community is meant to be a foretaste of our celebration in heaven. St. Augustine wrote of his experience of the Holy Week ceremonies – “How I wept deeply moved by your hymns and songs and the voices that echoed throughout your church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears, distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face – tears that did me good!” (Confessions 9:6, 14). On this Palm Sunday Jesus enters the city riding on a donkey. He is a merchant of peace not a warrior king marching into Jerusalem. He comes to his own as king but as a king who was to be rejected by his own people. Jesus entry into Jerusalem echoes the words of the prophet Zechariah 9:9 “Tell the daughter of Zion. Look your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey” In those days the donkey was not an animal of ridicule. In 1 Kings 1:31-32, King David gives instructions that his son and designated successor Solomon is to ride to his anointing as future king on the royal donkey. G. K. Chesterton in his poem entitled “The Donkey” gives honour to this animal for the privilege of carrying the Messiah into the city of Jerusalem
When fishes flew and forests walked / The tattered outlaw of the earth
And figs grew upon thorn, / Of ancient crooked will;
Some moment when the moon was blood / Starved, scourge deride me: I am dumb./
Then surely I was born. / I keep my secret still
With monstrous head and sickening cry/ Fools! For I also had my hour;
And ears like errant wings, / One far fierce hour and sweet:
The devil’s walking parody / There was a shout about my ears,
On all four-footed things. / And palms before my feet.
Prayer for Holy Week: As I enter into this Holy Week, enable me to walk with You and to offer my own life as a sacrifice in union with Your own perfect Sacrifice. May your Holy Week transcend time and permeate every aspect of my life so that, as I die with you, I may also share in the glory of your Resurrection. Jesus I trust in you.
Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1880. We appreciate your generosity and support of us.
Holy Week Leaflets: Please take a Holy Week leaflet with you. It will help to remind you of the times of our various Services.
Confessions will be celebrated each day of Holy Week from Monday to Thursday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Good Friday: (Extra Confessional times) 11am – 12.30pm. 2pm – 2.45pm & 4.15pm – 5pm.
Holy Saturday: (Extra Confessional times) 11am – 12.30pm. 2pm – 5pm. Please note on Holy Saturday the church will close at 5:00 pm to help us personally prepare for the Vigil.
Holy Week Timetable: Monday to Wednesday Mass will be celebrated at 7pm each evening.
Monday to Wednesday – Stations of the Cross will be prayed before Mass beginning at 6:30 by Brendan.
Holy Thursday: Mass @ 5pm – Charles. Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Celebrant: Brian at 7.30pm.
Holy Hour on the theme “Watch with me” between 9-10 pm. Charles.
Good Friday – Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm. Anthony.
Good Friday – Witnesses at The Passion at 7.30pm – Charles & Readers.
Holy Saturday – The Easter Vigil at 8pm – Celebrant: Charles & Community.
Easter Sunday – Masses at 10:30 am – Anthony. 12noon – Brian & 4pm – Charles.
The Shop: Open Mon to Sat:9.30am – 7pm. Sun 9.30 – 4.30pm. Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Birthday, Anniversaries, & Easter Mass Bouquets. Cost £2.
April’s Church Cleaning group will meet on Wednesday next 5th April at 7.30pm.
Friday Exposition: There will be no Exposition on Good Friday but it continues on Friday 14th April from 10am – 2pm.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
Save Our Acute Services: Our plan to Save acute services at SWAH is making progress. Please sign the letter which is available at the porch doors and we will deliver it. If you need further copies, ask and we’ll give them to you.
Recently Deceased
Noel Farry, Armagh formerly Garrison
Anniversaries
Audrey Gallagher, Belcoo
James, Teresa & Margaret O’Doherty, Belmore St, Enniskillen
Packie Corrigan, Arney
James Curran, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim
Sean Flanagan, Bellanaleck
Jamie Ridout, Milton Keynes
Mary Ellen & Thomas Kelly, Augher
John & Ellen Maguire, Mullymesker, Bellanaleck
Monica Mc Cauley, Lurgandarragh, Enniskillen
Teresa Murphy, Lisgoole Pk, Enniskillen
Phelim Gollogy, Epsom, Surrey formerly Keady
