Dear Fellow Parishioners, After Lent, Holy Week and Easter, we are now at the end of Easter Week, or the octave of Easter. It’s called the “octave” because this Sunday is the eighth day after Easter, counting inclusively as they did in the ancient world. Those of us who are a little older can remember […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, By the time you read this, it will be the Easter Vigil or Easter morning. Over the last four days of Lent (Holy Monday through Holy Thursday) and the Triduum (Holy Thursday evening to the Easter Vigil) our cold, wet winter and early spring will begin to give way to warmer days […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Nearly all of you have noticed the netting and scaffolding around the parish hall, which is being repainted. Since the parish hall is the parish building most exposed to sunlight on all sides, it is in most need of maintenance. The real work of the project is in the preparation, and most […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I was happy to convey in my Easter letter that, for the first time in four years, our celebrations of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter will be back to their pre-COVID form. The Passion Gospels will be read in parts, including the congregation. The last remnant of COVID observance – offering […]
Palm Sunday – April 2Regular Sunday Schedule CONFESSIONSWed., April 5, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Saturday, April 8, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. THE EASTER TRIDUUMHoly Thursday – April 6(No Mass at 8:00 a.m.)Mass of the Lord’s Supper:7:30 p.m. (bilingual)Adoration until 10:00 p.m. Good Friday – April 7Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 1:15 p.m.Stations of the […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Last Monday night, SV hosted our Lenten Reconciliation Service. After a handful of years of COVID-suppressed demand, this service attracted more people than I have ever seen. We had 9 priests and began hearing confessions shortly after 7 p.m. and I didn’t finish until about 9:45 p.m. I understand that many people […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I spent a good part of my day off writing this week’s “Pastor’s Desk” before receiving Bishop Vasa’s statement on the diocese’s intention to file for bankruptcy protection. His statement is sobering to read, as it provides the frankest and fullest account of events leading up to this bankruptcy filing. Though it […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, What is the attraction of Ash Wednesday for so many, even those who attend church only a few times a year? Part of the appeal is its universality, as any living person from the Pope on down can receive ashes. I’m almost certain that our attendance at SV was noticeably larger this […]
2023 Lenten Regulations for the Diocese of Santa Rosa “The Lenten Season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, both with the Rite of Election and Scrutinies, and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, This is the final of four articles on the late Pope Benedict XVI. The conclave of 2005 which elected Pope Benedict XVI was the first to be housed in Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican, built by Pope John Paul II for that purpose and for housing visiting clergy at other times. […]