In this Edition:
- Holy Week Schedule
- Extra Reconciliation: March 24 (tonight!) & March 31, 7-9pm
- Easter Basket Blessing, April 3, 11:30 am
- COME UNITY EVENT: March 27, 6:30 PM
- Join Fr. Don and others for this cross-cultural worship event
- Prayer Vigil with Ministry to the Imprisoned
- Remembering and living our baptismal call - Fr. Dankasa's latest article
FROM THE PASTOR
My dear parishioners,
I want to offer congratulations to Chris Schraeder!
Last Saturday he and his diaconate class were installed as Acolytes. This is a big step in their formation as Permanent Deacons, the last one before ordination.
The ministry of Acolyte used to be one of the Minor Orders that were steps on the way to ordination. Each of the orders developed out of need (i.e., the porter used to watch the door, the subdeacon used to assist the deacon, etc.) Pope Paul VI suppressed most of the Minor Orders in 1972, recognizing that they had lost their significance over time and were more symbolic than practical. He kept Lector and Acolyte and designated them as ‘ministries.’ The Lector was trained in the proclamation of Sacred Scriptures and the Acolyte was trained to assist the priest and deacon at the altar.
These days the ministries of Lector and Acolyte are no longer reserved solely for those preparing for ordination but are also open to lay people who seek to serve the church by proclaiming Sacred Scripture and assisting the priest and deacon at the altar.
In the formation process for the Permanent Diaconate, the candidate’s whole family discerns the call of God together and makes the sacrifices that go with it. And so, I offer my congratulations to Kat, Chris’s wife, and the children. Your witness is a blessing to us all.
God bless you all,
Fr. Don
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday - Easter Sunday
As Holy Week begins, I invite you all to enter into these sacred moments with gratitude for the great love of God who enters our deepest struggles and brings the hope and light of Easter into our suffering. With Christ by our side, there is nothing to fear.
THE LIGHT IS ON FOR YOU
St Gabriel and many other churches in the Diocese will have extra opportunities for reconciliation TODAY, March 24, from 7:00-9:00 pm and next Wednesday, March 31, from 7:00-9:00 pm. If you haven't been to confession in a while, take advantage of this gift. God's grace and forgiveness are available to you!
EASTER BASKET BLESSING
Saturday, April 3, 11:30 am
This beautiful tradition is from Eastern Europe, but ALL are welcome to bring an Easter basket filled with special food and be a part of this tradition. Some of the items in these baskets include: Eggs, Bread, Salt, Horseradish, Kielbasa or Ham, Cheese, and Butter.
Bring your baskets to the main church, and we'll bless them for your Easter celebrations.
COME UNITY 2021: Thy Kingdom Come
March 27, 6:30 PM at MISD Stadium
You're invited to join in this cross-cultural worship event! Fr. Don will be there along with other church leaders in the community to worship our God together. This event is presented by 3e United. St Gabriel is a covenant partner with 3e United whose mission is to equip the church, to engage the community, and to empower the under-resourced. You can learn more about them here: www.3eunited.org
All Covid Protocols will be in place.
PRAYER VIGIL WITH MINISTRY TO THE IMPRISONED
March 28 after the 11:00 am Mass
Please join us following the 11:00 Mass, on March 28, as we gather in the chapel to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Ramiro Gonzales, who is scheduled to be executed in Texas in April. We will also remember in prayer the victim, the family of the victim, and the family of the condemned.
FINAL FISH FRY ON FRIDAY
FISH FRY
5:00-7:30 PM
The Knights of Columbus will be serving their annual fish fry dinners as take-out only this year. You will drive through the covered drop-off behind the church to order and pay, and they will bring the food right to your car!
ADORATION & STATIONS
Adoration is Thursday from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm and Friday from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Praise and Worship is at 6 pm.
Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm. We encourage you to attend some of these beautiful prayers and devotions especially during this time of Lent.
It's Palm Sunday this weekend. We begin the liturgy with shouts of "HOSANNA," welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem, and we end with Him dying on a cross. We're entering the holiest and most important week of the liturgical year. We hope you can join us in-person or online to pray this journey with our Lord and each other.
Pax Christi
St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community
972-542-7170
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