4th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF       OUR HOLY FATHER, JOHN PAUL II

       On Thursday, April 2nd, we will commemorate the fourth anniversary of our late Holy Father, John Paul II, who died at 9:37 PM on April 2, 2005. On Thursday, April 2^nd, in our church a special Mass will be celebrated for his canonization at 8.00am. The Mass will be followed by the Holy Hour and a Rosary, similar to the service we had last year. This will take place after the morning Mass on April 2nd.  PLEASE COME AND INVITE OTHERS. Please pray for the timely canonization of the Servant of God, John Paul II. (No evening Holy Hour this day).

 

ALMS GIVING

Many people around the world are hungry every day. They have no chance to satisfy their hunger even once. This time of the Holy Season of Lent is also the time of sharing. Our Lord Jesus said: “I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”!!!. Please share whatever you have with others, who are less fortunate than you.

       We are collecting imperishable food items for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to feed the hungry people in Oakland.. In the vestibule of our church barrels for food are placed. PLEASE SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH HUNGRY PEOPLE.

       Next weekend April 4/5 on Palm Sunday we are collecting  Operation Rice Bowl with your financial donations during the Second collection THANK YOU FOR YOR GENEROSITY.

 

PALM  SUNDAY

OF THE LORD’S PASSION

Holy week begins with Palm Sunday—called Passion Sunday next week - because the theme of Jesus’ suffering and death begins with the reading of the passion.  Parish liturgies begin with the blessing of palms somewhere outside of the usual assembly area, in imitation of the triumphant “parade” of Jesus from “Bethany” to “Jerusalem” (Matthew 21:1-11).  The gospel of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem is read, followed by a procession into church, with people holding blessed palms and singing festive songs.  Immediately afterwards, the theme of triumph changes radically with the reading of the passion narrative from the gospel according to Matthew.  Palm Sunday liturgy is devoted, therefore, more to the suffering of Jesus than to his triumphant reception by the people.  By telescoping these events, the church emphasizes the meaning of Holy Week rather than presents an accurate historical progression of saving events.  On Palm Sunday, the church celebrates the beginning of Jesus’ passage from life to death to new life:  the Paschal Mystery.

 

PALMS 

Originally, people paraded or processed in the original footsteps of Jesus from the little village of Bethany into the city of Jerusalem.  As part of the festivities, they carried real palm fronds or olive branches, the two most common trees in Palestine (see Matthew 21:18).  These were replaced with local versions of “palms” as the celebration of Palm Sunday spread throughout Europe and then the entire world:  Willow branches, Cedar branches, Pussy Willows, and flowers.  The “palm branches” commonly used in the United States are “Ground Palms” from Texas.

       Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer, arrived at the territory now known as the state of Florida on Palm Sunday in 1513.  He named the territory Florida because of the abundance of flowers evident, and

because flowers were used for palms in his native country of Spain.

       Blessed palms have always been respected as holy objects or sacramentals.  Some families place one or more on the wall behind a crucifix or holy picture until the next Palm Sunday, or they might braid them into crosses for wall decorations.  Others save them and burn a little when some crisis, such as a storm, threatens.   This custom may have originated in Austria, Bavaria, and Slavic countries where it was common to scatter bits of blessed palms around on the farm to protect fields and animals against bad weather and diseases.  Some of these traditions may very well be superstitious practices, presuming that there is special power in the plants themselves.  Already in ancient times, Greeks and Romans believed that certain plants possessed mystical powers.  Such was the case of mistletoe among the Druids in Celtic lands.

       Before the beginning of Lent the following year, blessed palms are burned at the local church and the ashes used in the Ash Wednesday ritual.

 

EASTER LILIES

Easter lilies did not exist in North America until about 120 years ago. The white trumpet lily, which blooms naturally in springtime, was introduced here from Bermuda. The popular name “Easter Lilies” comes from the fact that they bloom around Eastertime. They have become associated with Easter as much as poinsettias are with Christmas. In early Christian art, the lily was a symbol of purity because of its delicacy of form and its whiteness. For the same reason it serves well as a symbol of the Resurrection.

       Donations for Easter decorations can be made by using special forms & envelopes found at the entrances of the church. These donations may be made in memory or honor of family or friends, living or dead. Easter offerings for flowers enable St. Anne’s Guild to decorate throughout the season of Easter. May God reward all our benefactors.

 

TRIDUUM  SACRUM

What, really, do the Liturgies of the Triduum celebrate? Most all of us believe we know the answer. We assume that Holy Thursday commemorates the day Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and Holy Priesthood; Friday commemorates the day he was executed on the Cross; and the Holy Saturday Vigil commemorates His emergence from the Tomb.

      The Easter Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. Thus the Solemnity of Easter has the same kind of preeminence in the liturgical year that Sunday has in the week. The Eastern Churches call every Sunday “LITTLE RESURECTION”. In Russian language Sunday is called: Voskreseniie – Resurrection.

 

THE TOMB OF JESUS

       Many tombs from the time of Jesus have been discovered around Jerusalem; therefore, burial practices of the day can be described with some accuracy.  The body was washed, anointed with oils and spices and wrapped in a shroud, where it was then placed in the family tomb, either in a shaft cut into the rock, or on a shelf cut into the rock.  Some time after the flesh had eventually decayed, the bones were gathered and placed in a stone box called an ossuary.  The entrance to the tomb was often sealed with a heavy rolling stone to prevent animals from invading the tomb.

       According to the gospels, Jesus’ body was buried hurriedly before the Sabbath, by Joseph of Arimathea, in a tomb close by the place of the crucifixion.  Knowing where he was buried, some women followers of Jesus