NEWS AND EVENTS FOR HOLY WEEK APRIL 10TH

WILL YOU COME AND JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL PALM SUNDAY?

The Parish Mass every Sunday at 9:00AM.

There will be no Sunday School until after Easter.

This Sunday April 10th is Palm Sunday.

Mass today begins in the Hall for the Palm Procession.

Hymns: Procession 509, 511, 86, 94.

Readings at Mass today: The Palm Gospel St Luke 19: 28-40. 1st Reading: Is 50: 4-9a. Psalm: Ps 31: 9-16. 2nd Reading: Phil 2: 5-11. The Passion Gospel: St Luke 22 on your sheets.

The theme of this coming Holy Week and of today’s Palm liturgy is clear. What Jesus experiences for us is a manifestation of God’s overwhelming love for each one of us. Further, by our identifying ourselves with the ‘mystery’ of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection we ourselves experience a great liberation, a ‘passover’ from various forms of sin and enslavement to a life of joy and freedom.

Certainly, our celebration of Holy Week is not just to be one of memories, or even just of thanks but of entering, together with Jesus, into a new experience of living. It is meant to be real and not merely religious, pious and devotional make-believe.

Today’s liturgy combines both a sense of triumph and tragedy. Very importantly, we are reminded at the beginning, that we are about to commemorate the triumph of Christ our King. We do this through the blessing of palms, the procession and the joyful singing. And the celebrant wears red vestments. We need to keep this in mind as we proceed in the second half to hear the long tale of the sufferings and indignities to which Jesus was subjected in the Passion according St Luke. A tale not complete yet by the proper ending of the story: the Resurrection to new life. So, as we listen to the Passion story unfolding let us keep in mind the Hosannas as Jesus our King entered Jerusalem, his city. Very soon it will be difficult to recognise our King in the battered, scourged, crowned with thorns, crucified remnant of a human being.

Monday April 11th The Requiem Mass for Roy Rogers at 1:15PM in Church and afterwards at The Comfort Inn. Roy has been a loyal and active member of Holy Trinity both as Organist and Choir member.

Will you join us for the Chrism Mass (Blessing of Oils) at Canterbury Cathedral this coming Tuesday April 12th. The Mass begins in the Crypt at Noon. All priests and Deacons renew their Ordination vows on this special day with their Bishop.

Will you make a special effort to observe this Holy WeeK? As your parish priest I make a very special appeal this year to everyone, especially those who have not yet fully returned to the Church because of the Pandemic, to make a special effort to really enter the spirit of this Holy Week. It is the high point in the Church’s liturgical Calendar. Come and be part of the drama! Parents, this is your opportunity to teach your children about the importance of this Holy Week.

April 11th – 13th Mon, Tue and Wed of Holy Week Mass and Homily at 6:00PM

April 14th MAUNDY THURSDAY: Mass of the Last Supper with Footwashing and Stripping of the Altars followed by the Watch at the Altar of Repose. 6:00PM with Watch until 8:00PM.

April 15th GOOD FRIDAY:

The Way of the Cross for Children at 10:00AM .

The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at Noon.

April 16th HOLY SATURDAY. EASTER EVE The Great Easter Vigil at 8:00PM for both parishes. The Blessing of the New Fire, Reading of the Prophecies, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and First Mass of Easter at St Andrew’s Deal.

April 17th EASTER DAY The Parish Mass of Easter Day at 9:00AM

Holy Baptism at 2:00PM

Volunteers are still needed for the Foot washing at the Maundy Thursday Mass on April 14th at 6:00PM. Please speak to Fr Paul.

Fr Paul will be on leave after Easter for one week. Fr Michael will be presiding and preaching on Sunday 24th April.

This year our Annual Parish Church Meeting will take place after Mass on May 15th. We ask that if you have not yet entered your name on the Church Electoral Roll, and you worship regularly, please complete one of the forms available at the Welcome Desk. This allows you to vote at the APCM.

THE SPRING FAYRE at Holy Trinity is cancelled, and in place of this will be our BOOK SALE with Coffee and Cake. This will take place on April 30th from 10 – 1:00pm