Dear Friends,
As we begin the fifth week of our Lenten observance, it hardly seems likely that Holy Week and Easter are but days away. We remember last year and how we could not gather for the Holy Week ceremonies. They were celebrated in a reverent, but very lowkey manner, with just the priests and deacons participating. That is something that I hope to face never again.
This year, with some relaxation of restrictions connected to the pandemic, we will be celebrating the ceremonies and rituals of Holy Week and Easter, but in a simplified, safe manner. I would like to discuss these upcoming celebrations. First of all, beginning next weekend and going forward, you will notice that the hymnals will be back in the pews of both churches. We need these for the purpose of proclaiming the Passion of the Lord (from Mark’s Gospel next Sunday, Palm Sunday and from John’s Gospel on Good Friday). A suggestion was made that we eliminate the participation of the people in the reading of the Passion accounts this year and instead, have them read only by the deacon. After careful consideration of the matter at hand, I think that we can use the hymnals and that the Passion can be read in parts as it has been done for some years now. While the risk of contracting COVID19 by touching surfaces seems low, I would still advise you to bring a small container of hand sanitizer to use before and after handling the hymnals. Of course, if you do not feel safe touching the hymnals, you can omit participating in the reading of the Passion, or you can make use of apps on your cell phones. Also, beginning on Palm Sunday and going forward, we will resume the recitation of the Prayer to St. Michael after the blessing but before the dismissal.
On Holy Thursday, we will omit the traditional washing of the feet and the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the repository. On Good Friday, we will have two services, one at 3:00 PM at St. Mary’s and another at 7:00 PM at St. Agnes. We will omit the procession for the veneration of the cross and ask everyone to genuflect or bow toward the cross in their pews. On Holy Saturday, we will omit the blessing of the new fire and the use of individual lighted candles. For Easter itself, things will be pretty much as normal. We will still be safely distanced and wearing masks in church for a while yet. The one thing that we cannot do is sing as a community. That will have to wait until more are vaccinated and herd immunity is achieved, bringing a further, even total relaxation of restrictions. I find these developments to be encouraging. We are heading in the right direction and we can hope and pray for an end to the pandemic soon. Have a good week!