Dear Parishioners,
Holy Week and the Easter Triduum are coming up quickly! These are some of the most important days in our liturgical year and a lot of work goes into preparing for them. As part of this preparation, we have sign-up sheets in the usher’s room for altar servers, ushers, readers (for the Easter Vigil) and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. So, if you know you will be attending Holy Thursday, Good Friday or the Easter Vigil and serve in one of those ministries, feel free to volunteer to help.
As you may know, on Holy Thursday night we have a special ceremony after the homily known as the Foot Washing. At this time, the priest (usually the pastor of the parish), washes the feet of a certain number of people (usually twelve). He does this to imitate what Christ did at the Last Super when He washed the feet of His disciples. He washed their feet in order to show that He is a servant and as a sign of priestly ordination in an ancient Jewish sense. He is telling His disciples to love one another and serve each other just as He has done. So, this action is highly symbolic and meaningful to all Christians. The priest is literally humbling himself in service the people of the parish. However, last year, there was a lot of confusion and I feel that this confusion took away some of the reverence and order of this act. Last year, we had sign-up sheets for people to have their feet washed. But, when it came time for people to come up, no one moved and it was very awkward. Eventually after I asked if people would like to volunteer to have their feet washed, some people did come up. So, it wasn’t a liturgical disaster. Still, I would like to avoid any gaffs in the liturgy since it takes away from some of the prayerfulness and attention to the mysteries.
My best guess is that last year people who signed up to have their feet washed somehow forgot that they signed up and that the altar servers bringing up chairs was not enough of a sign that those people should come forward to have their feet washed. So, to remedy this, we will not have a sign up sheet for people to have their feet washed. Instead, I have specific cards that state that you will have your feet washed that will be given out by ushers to people who volunteer as they come in for Holy Thursday Mass this year. That way, people can be confident about what they are doing. If anyone has any thoughts about this, feel free to contact me.
On a completely separate note, I would like to announce that there will be a departure from our Parish Office staff. Loretta Keating has been an important part of our staff here in the Parish Office for 14 years. You may have met her if you came to the front desk of our office. She is responsible for arranging most Mass cards, answering the phone and so many other things around the office. She and her family have been parishioners here for over thirty years, and she has also worked in our school, running the aftercare program and being involved with so much in the school and the parish. As she moves to North Carolina with her husband where she will be able to spend more time with her grandsons, we wish her well that God may bless her in her endeavors. Her last day is April 17th. So feel free to thank her for her service as well.
God bless!
Father Carter
P.S. Sometimes people approach me wondering if we can do Divine Mercy Sunday devotions which include the chaplet of Divine Mercy and making confession available to people. I am always for encouraging people to go to confession. So, would this be something people would be interested in? Please let me know by phone or by email, toddcarterpriest@gmail.com.