How wonderful it was to celebrate Holy Week and Triduum. As Holy Week and Easter approached, I thought about this being my favorite time of the Church year and the wonderful rites of processing with palms, washing each other’s feet, adoring the cross, baptizing adults and older children, and bringing new family members into the faith I so love.
I am always especially moved by the parishioners who fill the worship space, opening themselves to God’s grace, expressing their thankfulness for the beauty and power of these liturgies.
With mixed emotions, I was aware this would be the last Holy Week that I would serve as the Parish Liturgy Coordinator. It is with deepest gratitude that you have entrusted me with preparing the liturgies of these days, for they reveal and define who we are as Catholic Christians. In every decision, every imagined possibility for how to carry out a rite, I tried to consider those who pray these liturgies—here in this parish at this time. I pray this consideration has helped each of you to enter these holiest of days and, in some way, has deepened your faith, and enlivened your relationship with God. For this is the desire of most of us when we come to worship—to meet God and praise and petition Him, the One who has promised to be with us always. For some, I am aware, it is the only place of peace and solitude, of feeling you belong somewhere, of family. I pray that these days have given you that experience and will continue to be what you look forward to each year forward.
Thank you… to all who allowed me to kneel and wash your feet or extended the invitation to me; to all who witnessed before me the reverence you hold for Jesus on the cross, and the deeply moving way you assisted in bringing others to veneration…to all our neophytes who were willing to accept my guidance on their way to baptism and the Easter sacraments…to the amazing crowds on Easter who reminded me how grateful we are for what God has done for us. Truly we are a people of the Resurrection!
As I celebrate Holy Week with a new community, you will for always be in my prayers and heart. Thank you for the privilege of preparing the Triduum liturgies with and for the people of St. Hubert.
I also thought about the many ministers who serve the Church’s prayer and its people. More than 20 liturgies were celebrated from Passion/Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. This took an enormous amount of people serving with patience and respect for one another and the community. Many come back each day, unscheduled, simply because they are needed and are so dedicated to these sacred days. They are too many in number to mention. Thank you to each of you in every ministry who were gracious and attentive to our liturgies and the last minute changes.
St. Hubert is also rich in blessings, given the pastor and deacons who lead us in prayer, truly happy to be in God’s service, and to be here with us over these holiest days.
We all owe much to the Catechumenate—those who journeyed to the Easter sacraments and those alongside them. To those who returned to the Church, we are grateful for your courage to be welcomed back.
Lastly, but of great importance, I thank our Mass Coordinators who held things together over many liturgies. Without them, these liturgies would be hectic instead of prayerful opportunities to be with God and each other. For any large or small act of service over these days done by anyone—I offer thanksgiving.