From the Desk of Fr. Ron
Today marks the beginning of the most serious yet joyous week of our Catholic Liturgical Year of worship. Each year we begin with the Gospel’s joyful account of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. The crowd gathered begins their proclamation of Jesus as the Son of David, the One whom they have expected to come as the Messiah of God. The Pharisees meanwhile order Jesus to make the crowd stop their proclamation to which He responds: “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:40. This joyful scene turns ugly quickly in our Liturgy as we hear a proclamation of Luke’s Passion narrative. Each Liturgical year we recall these events, reading two full chapters of the Gospel recorded by each evangelist respectively. It is so very important for us to realize the brutal price that Jesus paid for us to have the opportunity to share eternal life with Him and the Father. This weekend, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Mark and Fr. Ron join the St. Martin de Porres Community for this proclamation this year as the St. Martin community assembles outside the Church during the Gospel Acclamation. With a large wooden cross draped in red, the community begins a procession through the streets around the Church, stopping fourteen times to proclaim the Passion narrative. People in the neighborhood come out of their homes, receive palm and copies of the Gospel text and some join us even reentering the Church at the end of the one hour proclamation. It is a small but powerful example of witness to the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. As St. John of the Cross proclaimed: “I looked at your cross Oh Christ and read there the song of your love.”
IN PARISH E-MAIL the following was received by a named parishioner within my e-mail account at Nativity dated March 8th…… Dear Father Ron…I want to express how much I've enjoyed both Father Daniel and Father Mark in our Parish. I have found each of them to bring such a positive spirit to Nativity…I have been able to follow right along with them without much issue with a language barrier. During those times that there may be one, I can say that it is becomes less noticeable as the weeks go on, and I find myself smiling right along with them. Father Daniel singing along with the choir at the end of Mass has been inspiring! Thank you for all you do for the Parish.
THE NEXT CCCB: CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF CENTRAL BUFFALO Lenten Pilgrimage will be held on Monday March 21st beginning at 6:30PM at St. Martin de Porres. As we enter Holy Week we conclude our Pilgrimage with an invitation to a communal Rite of Penance and Reconciliation. All are welcome.
THE ST. LAWRENCE PARISH FAMILY invite all, from our sister communities, to come and join them Good Friday, March 25th at 3:00PM as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Passion and Death. As on Palm Sunday at St. Martin de Porres, the red draped cross is processed out into the neighborhood streets as the congregation proclaims the Passion of our Lord according to John. We also take the time to bless the streets on which we walk praying for our neighbors and their families. Come and join in the witness and proclamation of the price that Jesus paid for our salvation.
Today marks the beginning of the most serious yet joyous week of our Catholic Liturgical Year of worship. Each year we begin with the Gospel’s joyful account of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. The crowd gathered begins their proclamation of Jesus as the Son of David, the One whom they have expected to come as the Messiah of God. The Pharisees meanwhile order Jesus to make the crowd stop their proclamation to which He responds: “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:40. This joyful scene turns ugly quickly in our Liturgy as we hear a proclamation of Luke’s Passion narrative. Each Liturgical year we recall these events, reading two full chapters of the Gospel recorded by each evangelist respectively. It is so very important for us to realize the brutal price that Jesus paid for us to have the opportunity to share eternal life with Him and the Father. This weekend, Fr. Daniel, Fr. Mark and Fr. Ron join the St. Martin de Porres Community for this proclamation this year as the St. Martin community assembles outside the Church during the Gospel Acclamation. With a large wooden cross draped in red, the community begins a procession through the streets around the Church, stopping fourteen times to proclaim the Passion narrative. People in the neighborhood come out of their homes, receive palm and copies of the Gospel text and some join us even reentering the Church at the end of the one hour proclamation. It is a small but powerful example of witness to the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. As St. John of the Cross proclaimed: “I looked at your cross Oh Christ and read there the song of your love.”
IN PARISH E-MAIL the following was received by a named parishioner within my e-mail account at Nativity dated March 8th…… Dear Father Ron…I want to express how much I've enjoyed both Father Daniel and Father Mark in our Parish. I have found each of them to bring such a positive spirit to Nativity…I have been able to follow right along with them without much issue with a language barrier. During those times that there may be one, I can say that it is becomes less noticeable as the weeks go on, and I find myself smiling right along with them. Father Daniel singing along with the choir at the end of Mass has been inspiring! Thank you for all you do for the Parish.
THE NEXT CCCB: CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF CENTRAL BUFFALO Lenten Pilgrimage will be held on Monday March 21st beginning at 6:30PM at St. Martin de Porres. As we enter Holy Week we conclude our Pilgrimage with an invitation to a communal Rite of Penance and Reconciliation. All are welcome.
THE ST. LAWRENCE PARISH FAMILY invite all, from our sister communities, to come and join them Good Friday, March 25th at 3:00PM as we gather to celebrate the Lord’s Passion and Death. As on Palm Sunday at St. Martin de Porres, the red draped cross is processed out into the neighborhood streets as the congregation proclaims the Passion of our Lord according to John. We also take the time to bless the streets on which we walk praying for our neighbors and their families. Come and join in the witness and proclamation of the price that Jesus paid for our salvation.
RSS Feed