Two weeks from now we will be celebrating Easter. Next Saturday, April 12th, at 11 am we will be having our communal penance with individual confessions. Three priests will be present, and I encourage your participation. This is also the weekend observing Palm Sunday and the traditional blessing and distribution of palms. This is always a busy weekend at St. Kateri with its anticipation of Holy Week. As we have done in previous years, we are honoring all our special parishioners in their nineties. Currently we have 49 folks who have arrived at that special decade of their lives. We have a gift for them and ask volunteers to deliver them after the masses next weekend. Your participation makes for a beautiful Easter gift to your fellow parishioners.
Also, next Sunday between 10 am and 1 pm pancakes and sausage are being served in St. Francis Hall. It is a great opportunity to share with parishioners and enjoy this time of year. There is no charge for the breakfast but a free-will offering is encouraged to cover expenses.
The pace toward Easter really picks up starting with this Monday. The Family Faith Program will be having its family communal penance service. It is perfect time for parents & children to celebrate God’s forgiveness as well as each other’s. Currently there are thirty-nine children in the program. Following confessions, we will have rehearsal for the adults and teens being baptized and confirmed on Holy Saturday evening. We have five adult baptisms along with nine other adults and five teens being confirmed. This is a very wonderful group this year who have grown in their knowledge of the faith and love for God. The average age of all the catechumens and candidates is twenty-four and will be practicing their faith in the following parishes: five from St. Alphonsus — St. Clement, 1 from St. Barbara, five from St. Maria Goretti, and eight from St. Kateri. No doubt their faith has been fostered and inspired by Deacon Tom’s tutelage and wise support.
I would hope that you can try to make the effort to celebrate at least some of Holy Week’s special liturgies. The schedule follows:
APRIL 17TH HOLY THURSDAY 7:00 PM Mass; Adoration until 9:00 PM
APRIL 18TH GOOD FRIDAY 12:00 PM Stations of the Cross, 1:00 PM Liturgy with Bishop Monforton
APRIL 19TH HOLY SATURDAY 11:00 AM Blessing of Food, 7:00 PM EASTER VIGIL
EASTER SUNDAY 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM EASTER Masses
May all of us endeavor to enter into the days ahead with reverence and joy for the gift of the Lord’s Resurrection.
