As Catholic faithful, we know that this is the most special week of our faith. We'll be celebrating at home with our families this year instead of rising on an early Sunday morning, dressing in those fresh spring colors and coming to pray together to the Risen Christ as a parish.
One of the beautiful gifts we still have the opportunity to receive amidst our current situation is the Sacrament of Confession. Holy Week is a time when many penitents return to the sacrament after many years away. We hope and pray this may still be the case this year. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is here for you at St. Mary's.
Holy Thursday, April 9, 4:00-5:00 pm.
Good Friday, April 10, 4:00-5:00 pm
Holy Saturday, April 11, 3:30-5:00 pm.
We have carefully prepared a variety of resources to guide you in this sacred time. Ways that we may accompany you virtually when we cannot be together as a community.
What is your Easter Game Plan?As we conclude #ADWHolyWeek, it is time to plan how we will celebrate all 50 days of Easter. Yes, there are 50 days of Easter. Father Fields gives you three suggestions HERE.
Stations of the Cross as a Parish-
Join us for a Zoom call on GoodFriday, April 10, at 12 pm, led by Father Fields. You may access this special time of prayer at this link, https://us04web.zoom.us/j/699465214. Enter the password, 20852, when prompted.
Litany of the Sacred Heart with Archbishop Gomez-
Catholics across the United States are invited to pray together on Good Friday. Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Litany of the Sacred Heart. We pray in particular for those seeking healing , wisdom and those who work to heal those affected by the coronavirus. Please join in on Good Friday, April 10, 2020, 12 noon (eastern time).
The Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See has given permission for a plenary indulgenceHERE for those who join Archbishop Gomez in this prayer.
Triduum Masses with Archbishop Gregory-
Archbishop Wilton Gregory is offering his Triduum Masses live-streamed from St. Matthew's Cathedral at the scheduled noted below. HERE.
Worship aids with the readings and music for each liturgy can be found HERE.
Times for the Liturgies are as follows-
Holy Thursday, April 9, 5:30 pm
Good Friday, April 10, 1:00 pm
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil,,April 11, 8 pm
Easter Sunday, April 12 , 10 am
There will be no Weekly Rosary Zoom call on Monday, April 13th. We encourage all parishioners to continue praying the Rosary from their homes.
Easter Photo Collage- As a way to celebrate Easter together as a parish community, we invite you share a photo of your family celebrating Easter together to smrockville@gmail.com. Any photos of your family at Easter, whether watching a Triduum Mass, sharing a special Easter meal, or even dying Easter eggs will be appreciated and used to make a collage of St. Mary's parish celebrating Easter at home, to be shared next week.
Divine Mercy Retreat with Deacon James-Led by Deacon James join your fellow parishioners for a virtual retreat reflecting on Divine Mercy in a time when we need most! Please join us on Sunday, April 19, 10:30 am-12:00 pm. at this link.https://us04web.zoom.us/j/328096885. Enter the password, 20852, when prompted.
Divine Mercy Novena-The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday continuing to Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19. You will find a Divine Mercy Novena with prayers for the pandemic. HERE.
Opportunities to Give-
Catholic Charities is experiencing an extraordinary increase in requests for food assistance, both from the thousands of people they help every year and the many in our region now facing food insecurity after losing their jobs. Their Virtual Food Drive is from Thursday, April 9 through Saturday, April 11. To participate and donate please click this link: https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/holy-week-virtual-drive/. Thank you for your generosity.
God bless you and your families.
We wish you a joyful Easter with the Risen Christ,