PALM SUNDAY
APRIL 2, 2023
Saturday, April 1 Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches (at the beginning)
Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil
4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Sunday, April 2 PALM SUNDAY – Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil
8:30 AM ✞ Mary Ann Youells – Dempsey Children
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Monday, April 3 6:30 pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts – NANTICOKE
Tuesday, April 4
4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – Plymouth
Wednesday , April 5 6:30 pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts – NANTICOKE
Thursday, April 6 HOLY THURSDAY
3:00 PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord
Friday, April 7 Good Friday
1:00PM Vespers with the Placement of the Holy Shroud.
Saturday, April 8 HOLY SATURDAY
1:00 PM Blessing of Easter Food Baskets in parish hall
6:00 PM Service at the Grave, Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos, Myrovania.
Blessing of Paschal Food.
Sunday, April 9 EASTER SUNDAY – EASTER DIVINE LITURGY
11:30AM Divine Liturgy-Resurrection of Our Lord
*Continued here: Surely He should have raged at the sinners who nailed him to the tree. Surely He should have raged at us for the evil we do, the evil we do both knowing and unknowing, Yet compassion is there in the first words that He utters. He intercedes for us before the Father. Compassion that called Him into being in his mother’s womb Compassion that compelled Him to the cross Compassion that brings incredible, unbelievable grace
Compassion that echoes through the centuries to all who participate in the killing of Christ:
Compassion that cries out from the cross:
“Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing”
It is us, me, who is the “they,” when I sin I nail Jesus Christ to the cross.
SATURDAY OF LAZARUS Saturday before Palm Sunday
Jesus Christ wrought many miracles during His lifetime but none was so rich in its effects as the resurrection of Lazarus.
This miracle marks the apex of Christ’s self-revelation. The magnitude of this miracle and the publicity attending it were the immediate causes of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
May this great and wonderful miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus strengthen also our faith in the divinity of Christ and in our own personal resurrection. That same Christ, who raised the four-day Lazarus from the dead, in His own time, will raise us also to a life of eternal happiness. He Himself assured us of this when He said: “I am the Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, shall live!”
The meaning of Palm Sunday
The Jews wanted to see their messiah in power and glory. Accordingly they recognized by raising Lazarus from the dead that Jesus Christ was the Messiah so they rejoiced at His entry into Jerusalem, like a king in victory, at this all of Jerusalem was thrown into commotion saying: “Who is this?” But the crowds kept on saying: “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’”
The honor given to Christ lasted for only a brief moment, for His betrayal by Judas, His rejection by the Priests and the people, His condemnation by all the Jewish leaders, His passion; the way of the cross and crucifixion, followed in quick succession. These very same people who, on Sunday cried out, “Hosanna”, within a few days would be crying out: “Crucify Him.”
Palm Sunday teaches us the instability of worldly glory (men) and the vanity of earthly happiness. Joy and sadness here on earth are inseparable. If we wish a share in the triumph of Christ in heaven, we must first undergo a Passion Week and a Golgotha with Him here on earth. Only then, will we be able, like Him, to enter into everlasting triumph, joy and resurrection.
THE LAST WORDS OF JESUS
THE FIRST WORD Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called “The Skull”, they nailed Jesus to the cross. About those crucifying Him, Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing.”
Meditation on the First Word
“They do not know what they are doing”
They do not know? They …who killed Jesus?
Who is “they”?
It is so easy to name others, to blame others, the Romans, the crowd, Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas they all played their part and conspired against Jesus or simply followed orders to maintain the peace to keep Jesus’ kingdom from infringing on theirs. And yet where are we when Jesus’ kingdom infringes on ours? On our peace and our order? On our prosperity and our security?
Where are we when the victims of our peace cry for justice?
When those disenfranchised by our order call for compassion?
When the hungry and the lonely beg us to share our prosperity our security, our power?
Where are we when Christ is crucified among us?
Continued
Transfiguration of Our Lord schedule
Holy Monday, April 3, 6:30 PM The Presanctified Liturgy
Holy Wednesday, April 5 6:30 PM The Presanctified Liturgy with Anointing,
Confessions.
Holy Thursday, April 6 6:30 PM Matins of the Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord.
Good Friday, April 7 5:30 PM Vespers with Placement of the Holy Shroud.
Holy Saturday, April 8
PASCHA, April 9 7:00AM Service at the Grave, Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Artos, Myrovania
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SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 1 – April 8 by Michaelene Ostrum in memory of her father Michael Sirak.
ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles are requested to burn for all services for the month of April by Michaelene Ostrum in memory of her father Michael Sirak.
HOLY WEEK – Please remember that help is needed to participate in the Holy Week services. Holy Thursday, 3:00 PM, Good Friday 1:00 PM and Resurrection Services Holy Saturday, 6:00 PM. Help will be needed to set up the grave after the Holy Thursday evening services. Try to lend a helping hand. Sign up sheet is in the vestibule for Adoration. Spend some time with God. Can you give one hour with HIM.
dONATION: The Women’s Society of our parish donated $1000 toward our UGI bill for the pole lights in the parking lot. An error on UGI part billed our parish with a large bill of over $2000 because they never sent a bill for the lights. Our office was under the impression that they were billing us through the Church bill. They discover the error after the lights were not working and that is the story. Sorry to say.
Appreciation: Thank you to those who brought Willow branches and also those helped tie the Palm & Branches. Your help is always appreciative. God’s blessing.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 