Bulletins
April 3, 2016
Download the Bulletin as a PDFThe Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday truly were beautiful and full of grace, kissed by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sacristans, musicians, servers, singers and decorators all worked incredibly hard to make it happen. All of you parishioners who came simply to pray made it that much more rewarding. Among my favorite moments were those quiet mornings and evenings when we gathered for the Liturgy of the Hours the way Fr. Sina and I do in the rectory and some of you do at home.
On this last day of the Easter Octave, known as Divine Mercy Sunday since 2002, we will start praying Vespers, (Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours) every first Sunday of the month.
The Second Vatican Council called for parishes to do so: “Pastors of souls should see to it that the chief hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and the more solemn feasts. And the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests , or among themselves , or even individually” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 100).
Almost thirty years later, and two weeks after I was ordained, Pope St. John Paul II issued an apostolic letter on keeping the Lord’s Day holy entitled “Dies Domini”. In it he writes:
“Sharing in the Eucharist is the heart of Sunday, but the duty to keep Sunday holy cannot be reduced to this. In fact, the Lord's Day is lived well if it is marked from beginning to end by grateful and active remembrance of God's saving work. This commits each of Christ's disciples to shape the other moments of the day - those outside the liturgical context: family life, social relationships, moments of relaxation - in such a way that the peace and joy of the Risen Lord will emerge in the ordinary events of life. For example, the relaxed gathering of parents and children can be an opportunity not only to listen to one another but also to share a few formative and more reflective moments. Even in lay life, when possible, why not make provision for special times of prayer - especially the solemn celebration of Vespers, for example – or moments of catechesis, which on the eve of Sunday or on Sunday afternoon might prepare for or complete the gift of the Eucharist in people's hearts?” (Dies Domini, 52).
He is right. Why not?
Look online and in the vestibule for my pamphlet explaining the Liturgy of the Hours. Suffice it to say here that the psalms would have played a significant role in the prayer life of the Holy Family. Several times on the Cross did the Lord pray words from the Psalms. There is much more in the heart of Christ to ponder by praying the Psalms with Him and for His Church.
God bless you!
Fr. Christopher J. Pollard
