Dear Parishioners of St Anthony: 
 

Today is Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. During Holy Week the passion of Christ stands at the forefront of our hearts and minds. It was to walk more closely with Christ in this closing days of Lent that our fasting, prayers, and almsgiving have been preparing us for. At all the masses the Passion of Christ is read in its entirety.  This gospel is what we will reflect on for the rest of the week. These are the central events of Christ’s life—His suffering, death, and resurrection. Because of these events, we know the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life. With that in mind, that is why this is the holiest week of the entire liturgical year. 
 
I encourage all of you to do whatever you can to reflect on the passion of Christ during this week. Maybe read the passion of Christ again from one of the gospels, pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, pray the stations of the cross, pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy, just spend time in prayer thanking God for what He has done for you out of His great love. 
 
This would be a good time to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday, April 15^th at 2:00pm or 7:00pm. Extra priests will be available to hear your confession. This is the last opportunity to have your confession heard before Easter as there will be no confessions on Holy Saturday, April 19^th.
 
Obviously, I would encourage everyone to attend the various liturgical services that will take place on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. On Holy Thursday at 7:00pm, gather with Christ and the Apostles in the upper room where He gives the Church two great gifts—the priesthood and the Holy Eucharist! After the mass, spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to spend time with our Eucharistic Lord as He undergoes His agony in the garden. He asked His disciples, “Could you not spend one hour with me?” Can we not spend some of our time with our suffering Lord? Adoration will conclude at midnight so there is plenty of time to stop by and pray.
 
On Good Friday, the church will be open during the day for people to stop and pray as they desire. At 6:30pm, pray the stations of the cross to remember the final steps of Jesus’ life before He dies. Following the stations, at 7:00pm, the main liturgical celebration of the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion will take place which includes the reading of the Passion from John’s gospel, veneration of the cross, and holy communion.
 
Finally, on Holy Saturday, the church gathers in the early hours of the evening at 8:00pm to celebrate the Easter Vigil.  This is the first mass of Easter. There will be no 4:00pm mass or confessions on Holy Saturday, April 19^th. The 8:00pm mass is the only liturgical celebration. For those who desire, the blessing of the Easter baskets will take place at 12:00 Noon in the Parish Hall.
 
Easter Sunday masses will be at the usual times of 7:30am, 9:00am, and 10:30am with overflow capacity in the parish hall. With the larger than usual crowds, please give yourselves extra time to find parking and a place to sit. I hope you all have a Blessed and prayerful Holy Week.

 God bless, 
 
Father Dennis