Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Sacred Heart,

They say it is a sign of ‘maturity’ that time seems to go by faster as you get older. Others have even suggested that everyone, regardless of their age is experiencing time passing faster and faster. Maybe it’s just a pastor thing!
It is already Spring and here we are at Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. For me the winter barely started and now it is over. I hope for all of us Spring and this season of resurrection and renewal crawls by on tippy tippy toes very slowly!
It has been a long time, though, since I have written anything in the Pastor’s Corner. I’ve even thought of giving a short synopsis of my Sunday homily as something to share with the faithful. Yet, I never seem to be able to find the time. I promise you that I will try and write more often.
Holy Week is the holiest and most special week of the entire Christian calendar. We celebrate the saving death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the advent of eternal life for all who believe in him.
Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. Here at Sacred Heart and in most churches we will begin with a procession of sorts with palms as we enter the church before Mass. This commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem amid great crowds carrying palms and laying their cloaks and palms on the path before him. Many people will come on Sunday just to receive the palms which, of course, have no special value in and of themselves. I wait every year to see if anyone will lay clothes on the ground but this never happens.
While we are carrying our palms and singing triumphant songs, soon after the beginning of the reading of the Passion Narrative, we will see that things become more subdued and somber. By the end of the Mass we will have entered a reflection of the ending of Jesus’ earthly life and anticipate his victory over sin and death at Easter.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are days of preparation. During this time many people will seek Reconciliation. The bishops of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre have designated Holy Monday a Day of Reconciliation. Confessions will be heard in all churches on that day. Check with your nearest church to find out when. There will be Penance Services in many churches in the evening. Along with the cleansing of our sins, many people use this time of Spring Cleaning to clean their homes. Why not clean top and bottom in anticipation of the Lord’s new life?
Holy Thursday begins the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Saturday night Easter Vigil), celebrating the Paschal Mystery. On Holy Thursday we have the annual Washing of the Feet and we celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room. At the end of the Mass we will carry the Eucharist in procession around the church and then to the Chapel of Repose in the Martin de Porres Center. Last year many people took advance of this special place to adore the Real Presence of the Lord and pray fervently for their concerns.
On Good Friday we will commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, hear the Passion Narrative and venerate the Holy Cross on which our Saviour died. We will receive the reserved Eucharist, as no Mass will be celebrated. This is a special day of fasting and abstinence. The youth will lead an outdoor Stations of the Cross beginning at 1:30 PM.
Holy Saturday is the only day of the year when the church does not celebrate Mass. We are waiting, in vigil, for the Lord’s resurrection. In the evening, we will celebrate the grand Easter Vigil. We will receive catechumens into full initiation in the Church, light the Easter fire and Easter Candle and have the most wonderful Mass of the year. Our Lord has died and now we celebrate his resurrection. Please do make your best efforts to attend as many of the week’s Masses, services and events. I look forward to seeing your there. It is my pleasure to serve you. What better way to express my and our communal thanksgiving than to join in the saving acts commemorated in Holy Week?

Peace,
Fr Bryan Patterson

Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus forever and ever! Amen.