From the Pastor March 14/15

The Most Prayerful Week of the Year

Holy Week is the culmination of the Lenten Season as Christians enter Jerusalem with Jesus, follow him to stand at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, and rejoice in the Resurrection at Easter. It is the most important week on the Christian Liturgical Calendar, full of religious services commemorating the events surrounding the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Attendance at them isn’t obligatory but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to attend them. I’d like to see more Holy Redeemer parishioners attending Holy Week services, so over the next three weeks, this column will be devoted to explaining the various Holy Week activities.

The week starts on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. That day sets the tone for the week. Mass begins differently that day as we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. At the 10 am Mass we will gather in the Parish Hall to join in hearing the gospel’s recounting of that event, then join in a short procession along the side of the church and through the main doors into church. At the 4 pm and 8 am Masses there won’t be a procession.

While the Mass begins with a joyous procession it soon becomes more somber. The scripture readings hint of Messiah’s death on the cross. The gospel passage known as the Passion Narrative is read and helps intensify the sense of foreboding to prepare us for Jesus suffering and death. 

Here are a few activities that can help us celebrate Holy Week.

1. Church will be open daily from 7 am-5 pm. Come and spend even a short time in prayer. Bring the family if you can.
2. As a reminder of the events of the week hang your crucifix on the door you use going and coming from home.   
3. During the week turn off your car radio, earbuds, and cellphone to give yourself sometime of quiet.

The Chrism Mass, the Mass where the Diocesan Bishop gathers the priest of the diocese to bless the holy oils used in the sacraments in the coming year and hear them renew their ordination promises is traditionally held on Tuesday of Holy Week here in our diocese. To celebrate the day the Diocese of Fall River's Office of Clergy Support invites you to join a nine-day Novena for Priests leading up to the Chrism Mass. This time of prayer is a meaningful way to support our priests as they prepare to renew their priestly promises. The Novena begins on Monday, March 23, and continues through the nine days leading up to the Chrism Mass taking place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 4:00 PM at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. To participate in the Chrism Mass Novena for Priests, contact Matt Robinson, Director of Clergy Support, at mrobinson@dioc-fr.org or 508-492-0995. The Chrism Mass is open to the public, so feel free to attend. I’d like to see some familiar faces.

Getting back to the parish, we will celebrate Tenebrae on Wednesday evening, April 1, at 7 pm. The word Tenebrae is Latin for darkness. If you have never experienced Tenebrae, it is a prayer service that includes the singing of psalms and reading lessons from the Liturgy of the Hours reflecting on the upcoming passion of Jesus. During the service candles are extinguished and slowly the lights in the church are put out symbolizing the creeping darkness of Jesus’ death. There is a little surprise at the end. Make plans to enter into a devote celebration of Holy Week 2026.

Holy Hour for Peace

In response to the outbreak of war with Iran, serious partisanship and conflict in our country, and the need for peace in so many souls, Bishop DaCunha and all the Catholic bishops have asked parishes to conduct a Holy Hour for Peace. Holy Redeemer will conduct our Holy Hour next Saturday, March 21, at 11 am. Join your fellow parishioners to pray together for peace.

Calling All Medical Professionals

Your Options Medical (YOM) pregnancy resource center in Hyannis is looking to grow its medical team. If you are an OB/GYN, NP, RN, or radiologist, please prayerfully consider volunteering your time and talent to help us serve women facing unexpected pregnancies. You can make a difference in a world that believes life is disposable. Please reach out to Nancy Jamgochian, of YOM at nancy@awcprc.org.

Catholic Relief Services Collection 

This weekend there will be a second collection to support Catholic Relief Services. CRS is principal foreign charity agency of the American Catholic Church. A year ago, DOGE, the short lived government agency whose head took a “chainsaw” to the Federal Budget, cut many foreign aid agencies. It is still the obligation of rich countries like ours to aid the people of poorer ones. Churches can’t possibly replace all the assistance the government cancelled but we need to try our best. Please be generous to the second collection for CRS this weekend. 

Lenten Devotions

Throughout Lent the Stations of the Cross and Evening Prayer will be celebrated Friday afternoons at 4:30 PM. A simple soup supper will follow in the Parish Center. This Lent come and join us for this time of prayer and fellowship. 

Lenten Folders

Have you been filling your Lenten Folder? At the beginning of Lent every parish household was sent a Lenten Folder to use to encourage almsgiving, one of the Lenten disciplines along with prayer and fasting. We asked you to put aside 25₵ every day for a total of $10 for the season. Proceeds from the folders go to a local charity, The Cape Cod Foster Closet. The Closet supplies necessary clothing and supplies for local foster families providing a temporary home for a foster child. Please fill your folder and support this important charity. We’ll start collecting the folders on Palm Sunday, March 29.