FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE
APRIL 3, 2022
Saturday, April 2
4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Sunday, April 3
8:30AM FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST – MARY OF EGYPT
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Friday, April 8
4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 9
4:00 PM Allison Poullard – Poullard Family
Sunday, April10 PALM SUNDAY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
Saturday Liturgy is 6:00 PM – Sunday Liturgy is 10:30 AM
PRAYER FOR THE UKRAINE
St. Mary of Egypt
The Fifth Sunday of Lent recalls St. Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot. An Egyptian by birth, Mary was a frivolous actress. She lived in Alexandria, leading a sinful life. After her conversion she fled into the desert beyond the river Jordan, where she spent the remainder of her life doing penance for her past sins. She reached such a high degree of perfection that she became a beloved disciple of Christ and a model for all penitent sinners. Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin can nor is it ever too late, either in life or in Lent, to repent. Christ will gladly receive all who come to Him in authentic repentance, even at the last minute of their lives. However, their coming must be in serious and sincere repentance.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, For the sake of Your Sorrowful Passion,
help me to lead a holy life and have mercy on all the
souls who are separated from You. Pardon me from
all my sins by Your sacred wounds and fill me with
the mercy of Your Heart that bled for me on the Cross.
With faith, with hope and with courage, let me be an
everlasting witness to Your covenant. Cover me with
the purity of the Holy Spirit so that I may dwell in the
light of God’s grace until I take my final breath.
Amen
Recognize the joy that comes from the simple things in life
like a smile, a hug, or a good meal.
Lord, help me think about the good things in my life
and how my life would change without the
FIFTH GREAT FAST SUNDAY
Today is the last Sunday of Lent. Even though there remains one whole week to run the course of these special days of prayer and fasting, the Church, as if impatient to begin Holy Week itself, urges us to anticipate the glorious entrance into Jerusalem. She does this by prescribing Saint Mark’s account of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem before His passion. (Mark 10:32-45)
Saint Mark describes how Jesus takes the twelve apostles aside to tell them that He will be betrayed, condemned and put to death, and that He will rise from the dead. At this threshold of Holy Week, we can put ourselves into the very places of those twelve men and allow ourselves to be taken aside by the Savior for a talk in which He explains to each of us the mystery of Redemption.
The apostles were asking Jesus to help them understand at greater depth of what will happen. Two of them, the brothers, James and John, quite ambitiously were looking out for their own glory. Jesus challenged that ambition and explained that true glory lies in serving others. Jesus emphasizes that He Himself is here not to be served but to serve.
We can almost feel the disappointment of James and John and the indignation on the part of the other ten apostles. What we see among the twelve is a good example of self-interest: What’s in it for me? What’s the pay-off? What do I get?
This last week of Lent we have the opportunity to exchange places with James and John and the other apostles, to be with the Lord as He approaches Jerusalem.
We, however, have an advantage those twelve men lacked: we know already what lies ahead for Jesus. We know about the spiritual nature of His Kingdom. We can use the next seven days to renew our own efforts at making our lives deeply spiritual too.
Why do we come to Church? Why do we assemble as Church? Why will we celebrate the Eucharist once again, and then again, and again and again?
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested this week April 1 – 9 by Geri Kolotelo in memory of her mother Anna Kolotelo.
ALTAR CANdles:The Altar Candles will burn in the month of April in memory of Michael Sirak requested by daughter Michaelene Ostrum.
BUILDING FUND:Our thanks for the donations received in memory of Michael Kane: Mary & Bill McGuigan, Susan & Ron Smith, Maurine & Paul Sutton, Mrs. Linda Schwartz, Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kosek, the Ostrum Family. All the donations to the Building/Improvement Fund are greatly appreciated.
CHURCH CLEANING:Many thanks to thevolunteers who came out last week to clean the church for the Easter season. Your time and effort are appreciated.
HOLY WEEK: Please remember that help will be needed to participate in the Holy week services. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Services Holy Saturday. Sign up to spend some time with the Lord at the grave.
A sign up sheet is in the vestibule for adoration of the grave. Please try to fill every hour.
PASCHA SCHEDULES 2022 A. D.
Holy Tuesday, April 12
4:00 PM The Presanctified Liturgy, Confessions.
Holy Thursday, April 14
3:00PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord.
Good Friday April 15
1:00PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud.
Holy Saturday – Food Blessing in Hall, 1:00 PM
Holy Saturday, April 16 Services of Resurrection
6:00 PM Service at the Grave, Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos, Myrovania and Blessing of Paschal Food.
Pascha
Sunday, April 17 11:30AM Divine Liturgy-Resurrection of Our Lord with Blessing of Paschal Food.
Bright Monday, April 18
8:30 AM Divine Liturgy, Myrovania.
Bright Wednesday, April 7
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy, Myrovania.