My Brothers and Sisters, Today, with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, we have entered the most solemn and beautiful time of our Church Year: Holy Week. Our high holy days as Catholic Christians are the three days of the Paschal Triduum beginning with Holy Thursday s Mass of the Lord s Supper, continuing with Good Friday s Celebration of the Passion of the Lord and climaxing Holy Saturday s Easter Vigil, the first Mass of Easter. Spread over the course of three days, the Triduum (pronounced trih-doo-um ) is actually one continuous liturgy highlighting the core mysteries of our faith: the Lord s Passion, Death and Resurrection. Then, we have the Fifty Days of the Easter Season (culminating the Solemnity of Pentecost) to help us unpack these mysteries of our faith. If you have never had the opportunity to do so, this might be the year to make a commitment to attend the Liturgy of the Paschal Triduum on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, all services beginning at 7:30PM. In a real way, the Triduum enables us to walk in the footsteps of Christ, though the principal mysteries of his life-giving passion, death and resurrection. Holy Thursday s 7:30PM celebration begins with the welcoming of the Holy Oils blest at the Chrism Mass by Bishop Olmsted (these oils will be used sacramentally throughout the coming year) then moves on to a two-fold focus: first, on Jesus mandate to his disciples to serve one another as I have served you, as ritualized by the Washing of the Feet and second, on the institution of the Eucharist. Both of these events, as recorded in the Gospel, took place at the Last Supper prior to Jesus betrayal by Judas. After Communion, the Holy Eucharist is transferred by procession to Fr. Feeney Hall for a period of quiet adoration and prayer commemorating Jesus vigil of prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. On Good Friday at 7:30PM, the celebration begins by recognizing our need to surrender ourselves to total dependence on God (as symbolized by the prostration of the clergy before the altar). We hear the proclamation of the Passion of the Lord according to John, we pray extended intercessions for the needs of our world, we venerate the wood of the cross (recognizing the cross as the instrument of our salvation) and we receive Holy Communion before leaving the church in silence. [Additionally on Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross are prayed in church at Noon]. Then on Holy Saturday, we gather again at 7:30PM for the Easter Vigil: listening to the Hebrew Scriptures that foretold our salvation on Christ, lighting the Easter Fire, listening to the chanted Easter Proclamation, hearing the Gospel of the Resurrection, experiencing the baptism and confirmation of the Elect, renewing the vows of our own Baptism and celebrating the Eucharist at the first Mass of Easter. The liturgy of the Paschal Triduum constitutes the high point of our Church s liturgical life, summarizing the great mysteries that make us who we are as a People of Faith. I hope that you can plan to join in these celebrations! Our Easter Sunday Masses are scheduled for 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 9:15 and 11:00AM. The 6:00AM Sunrise Mass and 9:15AM Mass are celebrated in the School Courtyard; a change this year is that the Children s Liturgy will be celebrated in church at 9:00 (rather than in the Courtyard at 9:15AM). Please note that the final Mass of Easter Sunday is celebrated at 11:00AM (there is no evening Mass on Easter Sunday). Weather permitting, additional parking will be available in the school field on Easter Sunday please be sure to give yourself a little extra time and be particularly welcoming as we expect lots of friends and visitors on Easter morning! Finally, because the Triduum is of such importance, we do not celebrate any other Masses on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday nor will there be Confessions offered on Holy Saturday. May God bless us and fill us with the Holy Spirit as we enter this most sacred time! Grace and peace in Christ, Rev. Charles G. Kieffer Pastor
PALM SUNDAY PARISH NEWS Many Hands Make Light Work! It s not too early to be thinking about Easter, and we need about 20 people to decorate the Church and School Courtyard on Saturday, April 15th, starting at 9:00AM. Visit our parish website for a link to get more information and sign up online. All ages are welcome, and service hours will be verified upon request and we ll have pizza available for lunch so start your Resurrection celebration early and come join us! Plan on joining Fr. JC for the next (and last) video session on Michelangelo -The Artist Monday, April 10 in the Church from 9:00-10:30AM or 6:30-8:00PM You won't want to miss the conclusion of this incredible Lenten Journey! Save The Date: "Harry Potter and the Prince of Peace" (June 19th-23rd, 9AM-Noon) will begin registering campers in April. Forms will be available in the church, school and parish office for 80 campers ages 4-years-old through third/fourth grade. Fee is $30 per camper. Register early, once it fills it will be closed. Other students in 6th-grade through college are encouraged to apply as camp counselors and CITs (counselors in training). We Need Help NOW painting signs, prepping the crafts and gathering materials for the June VBS program. We can't do this alone: We need high school, college and parent involvement to volunteer at Hogwarts International School of Muggles. Children of parent volunteers attend free, and students earn service hours. Contact Gina Keating via Owl Post, or gkeating@sttheresaphx.org and say, I Want To Volunteer at Hogwarts! Calling All Pivotal Players! Reformers, theologians, mystics, converts, evangelists and artists flowing from our 2017 Lenten journey comes a follow-up for next year s 2018 journey. A parish book of poetry and photography to be used as a meditative reflection to guide us and to further transformation and conversion. Submissions of poetry and photographs are being accepted now for consideration in next year s Lenten guide. Put your feeling to paper, your photographs and drawing to canvas. Theme: conversion, change, transformation, metamorphous, which demonstrate Our Ongoing Rebirth of Faith. Entries can be submitted to the Parish Office Attention: 2018 Lenten Guide Committee St. Theresa Parish Community Mark your Calendars We re Having a Cookout! BBQ SoCial Saturday May 20, 2017 after the 4pm Mass. Fr. Feeney Hall Guadalupe Courtyard
St. Vincent De Paul A special thank you to everyone who puts money in the poor boxes. It is said that every penny counts. This is proven by the income from our poor boxes! Last year your pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, large and small bills totaled $3,518.50 or 7.3% of our total donations. Newspaper Recycling Drop-Off The students of St. Theresa Catholic School appreciate parishioner support for their paper recycling program, but they request that parishioners NOT drop off papers during school hours, since opening the security gates during the school day and vehicle traffic around the Msgr. McMahon Center Gym causes some safety concerns for our students. Please drop off recycling when you come to weekend Mass, or on weekdays between 3 & 5PM when security gates are open and the recycling bins are accessible. Thank You! St. Theresa Parish 2017 Wine Festival Hosted by your Knights of Columbus Saturday, April 29th Fr. Feeney Hall Following The 4PM Mass Please call Jim Tucker with any questions at 602.430.6144 or just buy your tickets online at www.sttheresawinefestival.myevent.com. Pray For Those... Who Have Died: Anthony Certa & Adelina Rose Hillyer Who Are Sick: Manuela Najera, Anne Steinberger & Rosie Tallabas PASTORAL CARE Are You Hospitalized or Homebound? If you or a loved one is in need of communion, anointing of the sick or confession please contact the Pastoral Care Office (Maureen Schaaf @ 602-586-7429 or by email at mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org). The New Evangelization is a Task of Apostolic (or Pastoral) Action. Authentic apostolic action is nothing other than acts of true love done for the love of God and for our brothers and sisters. The Pastoral Care Ministry is always looking for assistance. Presently we are in need of bakers for Funeral Receptions, and kitchen angels to help with the Senior Luncheons and Funeral Receptions. We are also in need of an EM for Care Meridian on Saturday morning after Mass. If you feel called to serve, please contact Maureen Schaaf in the Parish Office @ 602-586-7429 or by email at mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org. Fish & Faith Thanks! Special thanks go out to Cindi Bankert for making all of the delicious food for our Friday night Lenten Fish Fry s here at St. Theresa Parish! Many thanks also go out to Cindi s crew of volunteers ~ Walt Arant, Yeeling & Robert Burnett, Shannon, Sophia & Brandon Braccio, Ed & Bonnie Ciszczon, Anne Field, Matthew Goins, Patricia Ingram, Rita Laguna, Beth Peterson, Beth & Lou Rapa, Herman Ray and all the other helping hands! Several Ministries of the Parish as well as the staff and students of St. Theresa School volunteered their time to lead Stations of the Cross each Friday evening and we would like to thank them as well. Great food and fellowship was shared by all! All proceeds from this year s Fish Fry will be going to benefit the Verde Villas on Thomas Road housing community Welcome Home Fund for new residents.
PALM SUNDAY Help us meet our 2017 Charity and Development Appeal parish goal! Thank you for supporting the works of mercy in our Diocesan Community! Alzheimer s Support Group: Tuesday, April 25th at 4PM in the Parish Office Conference Room. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer s or dementia and need support, stop in and see if this is the group for you. There Will Be NO Adoration In The Convent Chapel On Holy Thursday Please join us for the Mass of the Last Supper at 7:30PM followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose in Father Feeney Hall. morning Mass. If you feel called to serve please contact Maureen Schaaf @ 602-586-7429 or mschaaf@sttheresaphx.org. SCHOOL NEWS St. Theresa Catholic School Class of 1989 Reunion Saturday, May 27th at 7PM OHSO Brewery Arcadia 4900 E Indian School Rd For more information please contact Kelly Sandahl-Messenger at kamessenger@cox.net. DIOCESAN NEWS St. Gerard s Mass of Comfort and Hope For All Those Affected By Infertility Diocesan Pastoral Center Chapel 400 E. Monroe St, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Friday, April 21st at 6PM Reception with refreshments and resources to follow. For more information call 602-354-2122 or visit nfp@diocesephoenix.org. Worldwide Marriage Encounter Think of how tired, discouraged and frustrated the apostles must have been in the Gospel reading today. Then Jesus shows up and tells them to try one more time. Because they were willing and obedient, Jesus blessed them abundantly. It works the same way in our own lives today; if we trust in Jesus and do what He tells us to do we will receive His abundant blessings! Allow the grace of God to strengthen, renew and rekindle your marriage relationship. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend will be May 19th-21st in Phoenix. To apply or for other dates visit www.wwmearizona.com. ~ Readings ~ Week of April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday Mt 21:1-11; Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14 27:66 or 27:11-54 Monday Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15-17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34; Mt 26:14-25 Holy Thursday Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Ps 89:21-22, 25 and 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21 Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 Good Friday Is 52:13 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 19:42 Holy Saturday Vigil: Gn 1:1 2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a; Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20-22; Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11; Ex 14:15-15:1; Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18; Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13; Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Bar 3:9-15, 32 4:4; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11; Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3,4; or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; Rom 6:3-11; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mt 28:1-10
Mass Intentions & Celebrants (APRIL 10TH-APRIL 16TH) MONDAY, APRIL 10TH 6:30AM ARNOLD HABIG-FR. JOACHIM TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH 6:30AM THOMAS HUGHES-FR. JOACHIM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH 6:30AM MANUEL MACIAS-FR. JOACHIM 8:30AM 7TH GRADE STATIONS OF THE CROSS (NO MASS) HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 13TH 7:30PM ALL THOSE PERSECUTED & TORTURED FOR THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH-FR. JC GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14TH NO MASSES HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH 7:30PM FOR THE PARISHIONERS-FR. PAUL SUNDAY, APRIL 16TH 6:00AM MARIA LUISA PERES-FR. CHUCK 7:30AM MSGR. JOHN ENZLER, SPECIAL INT.-FR. JC 9:00AM WM WISE-FR. JOACHIM 9:15AM CANDE SEGOVIA -FR. JC 11:00AM FRANK, MARIA, REGINA & CONNIE PATCHETT-FR. PAUL The Priest scheduled to celebrate the Mass IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Palm Sunday 10:15AM RCIA (Convent Upper Rm) 10:30AM RE (School Ramada) 6:00PM Life Night (Life Teen Rm) Monday 9:00AM Lenten Journey w/ Fr. JC (Church) 6:30PM Lenten Journey w/ Fr. JC (Church) Tuesday 1:00PM Pastoral Care Book Club (Parish Conference Rm) 3:30PM Youth Choir Rehearsal (Church) 5:30PM Core Team Mtg. (Life Teen Rm) 6:30PM Boy Scout Mtg. (PJP Rm) SVDP Mtg. (Convent Conference Rm) 7:30PM Adult Basketball (Msgr. McMahon Gym) Wednesday 9:30AM Centering Prayer (Convent Chapel) 11:00AM 7th Grade Stations of the Cross (Church) 5:00PM Reconciliation (Church) 6:00PM Choir Rehearsal (Church) 6:30PM Rosary (Convent Chapel) Holy Thursday 7:30PM Mass of the Lord s Supper (Church) followed by Adoration in Fr. Feeney Hall Good Friday 12:00PM Stations of the Cross (Church) followed by Silent Meditation until 3PM 7:30PM The Lord s Passion (Church) Holy Saturday 7:30PM The Great Easter Vigil (Church) 8:00PM Al Anon (Classroom 16) Alcoholics Anonymous (Classroom 17)