Dear Friends,
Like the rest of you, I had to get my taxes done before the magical day of April 15. This year, that date falls during Holy Week, which might be appropriate since it is often a cause for pain. The promises of lower
taxes did not fall true on my end; maybe they were true on your end. The church teaches that we have a moral responsibility to pay our taxes because we all share in the work of citizenship, but then it becomes all the more
important to be involved in the discussion about how our country will spend the money that we send to them.
Middle-income folks may be realizing that the deductions they took in the past are now missing from the tax code. As a result, their taxes may have gone up. Some of you have talked to me about how that effects your
charitable giving. I understand that for some of you these changes may make it more difficult to be as generous as you were in the past, but I hope that you see the gift you give to the parish as a way of saying thank you to
God for the blessings you have received and a way of supporting the work of the Gospel in the world. It is not simply a deduction, but an action arising out of your spirituality. I read a beautiful poem by Joseph Mirra in a recent edition of First Things entitled Mary of Bethany. It speaks of Easter hope in the midst of Holy Week sorrow and a generous heart:
In Bethany, as Jesus dines with friends,
And Martha sees to it that all are fed,
Her sister to the Lord alone attends,
Anointing him for coming days of dread.
She breaks the jar as love and duty meet;
Her worldly wealth she gives no thought to spare.
With precious oil she gently bathes his feet;
She kisses them, and dries them with her hair.
He gives his broken body for his sheep;
His precious blood upon the earth is spilled.
And for himself no portion does he keep—
His glory is his Father’s will fulfilled.
The fragrance of the nard now fills the room,
Announcing to the earth new Eden’s bloom.
As we enter into the special liturgies of Holy Week, I hope we can keep that same love which Mary had for Jesus with us as we walk with him.
Each of the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum are unique and beautiful. I encourage you to make time to attend them all. On Holy Thursday, we will commemorate the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist.
Following Mass, there will be time for silent prayer in a temporary chapel until midnight. We are invited to accompany Jesus just as he invited his friends to stay awake with him in the garden before his arrest. Friday you
will have two options – either at 3:00 or 7:00 – to remember Jesus’ passion and to give reverence to the cross. At the Easter Vigil, we will begin in darkness while we remember the history of God working with his people
until the light of Christ breaks forth into the world. This year we have five baptisms and a couple of professions of faith to celebrate at the Vigil. Then we conclude the Triduum on Easter morning as we celebrate the gift of
resurrected life that Jesus offers to each of us. Join us.
Peace,
Fr. Damian
Ps. To kick off our Holy Week we are offering a little Spaghetti and meatballs in the school gym. Please stop
by!! The proceeds go to support All Saints School.