As seen in the 3-17-24 Bulletin
Though I do not know the circ*mstances under which my Uncle, Fr. Wally Boul, obtained it, I do have the paperwork that attests to its authenticity. And the reliquary/relic it contains, like the chalice I use, is aparting gift from his love. Inside the relic are these words and initials:“DE LIGNO SS. CRUCIS D—N—J—C—”. And rising from that ‘ribbon’ with those words inscribed is a gold cross with a hallowed out channel. And inside that channel are two splinters, forming a cross as well. If you do not remember your Latin, what the relic contains should be clear from the presentation. “From the wood of the Most Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It is the most valuable possession I have.
And this Good Friday, that relic will be embedded in the Cross that we will venerate as a part of theCelebration of the Lord’s Passion. My hope is that it will draw you to be even more closely united to the Lord in his great act of redemption. That it will remind you of the price paid for our salvation. And that it will awaken in you an even deeper desire to live that same sacrificial love in your words and actions. “Behold”, the deacon will sing. “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which is hung the savior of the World.” And we will reply: “Come let us worship.” And do just that…
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So we clergy types are relying on the institutional memory of our Deacons and Fr. Haley as we plan the celebrations around Holy Week. Each parish has slight variations around these High Holy Days in the Church. The Triduum (literally: Three Days) is meant to be a mini retreat for the average Catholic. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours opens our common prayer each day. The Chrism Mass (at the Cathedral) blesses the oils to be used throughout the year to sanctify the people of God. The Mass of the Lord’s Supperbegins at 7pm, and is followed by time ‘spent with our Lord’ in the garden of Gethsemane. Night prayer is at 11pm.
Good Friday begins again with morning prayer. There will be no official Stations of the Cross in the church, but all are invited to the self-guided, walking Stations of the Cross scattered throughout Old Town Florissant. (Hope to get maps soon from the group that organizes this event.)We will have twocelebrations of the Passion – one at 3pm and the other at 7pm. They are the same celebration – so no need to go twice. And, as mentioned above, you will have the chance to venerate the relic of the true Cross.
Saturday begins with morning prayer. The Church observes the ‘great silence’ in the absence of her Lord in the tomb. That silence is shattered by the Easter Proclamation – the Exultet – of the Easter Vigil. The lighting of the Easter fire begins in Clara’s garden at 8pm, and will see us welcoming two dozen or so people into the Catholic Church. What a gift that will be.
Easter Sunday morning – please note the added Mass and the subsequent change in Mass times: 7am, 8:30am, 10am and 11:30am. There is no 6pm Mass on Easter Sunday.
The parish Penance Service will be held at the Philippine duch*esne Church site on Wednesday, March 20th beginning at 6:30pm.
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Kudo’s to the Sacred Heart Social Justice Committee for being awarded a grant from the Archdiocese on behalf of the Campaign for Human Development and the 10thAnniversary of the publication of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). In the words of the grant writers:“This project seeks to engageparishioners in activities that will grow their understanding and knowledge of the sin of racism and ofracial disparities/inequities in our society and church. It will work to educate parishioners in American civil rights history, cultivate an understanding of white privilege’s negative impact on our society and church, and work to assist parishioners to see where they can take action to make a difference in addressing the sin of racism.” Among other things, the grant will fund the purchase of and showing of the Documentary: Eyes on the Prize.Eyes on the Prize tells the definitive story of the civil rights era from the point of view of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life, and embodied a struggle whose reverberations continue to be felt today.
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Beginning the first Friday AFTER Easter (April 5th) and every first Friday following, Deacon Denny Barbero will lead the Devotion to the Sacred Heart prayers. These devotions will begin about 10 minutes after Mass is over. All are welcome to join us. This lovely tradition comes to us from the people of St. Rose Philippine duch*esne parish. Thank you, Deacon Dennis, for bringing it here!
