Thursday, March 25, 2021 COME HOME FOR EASTER THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 27
Confessions 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Four priests will be available to hear confessions from 9 am until 12 Noon in the Church. It is a wonderful time to come as a family to make your Lenten confession. Sunday March 28 PALM SUNDAY Masses at 5:00 pm (Saturday Vigil) 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am and 12 Noon
Palms will be available in the back of the church.
Thursday, April 1 HOLY THURSDAY 7 am – Msgr Vaghi's First Thursday Talk: The New Testament: The Principal Source for the Life and Teaching of Jesus, Our Savior 12 pm Mass (for those who can not attend the 7 pm Mass) 7 pm – Mass of the Lord's Supper
Friday, April 2 GOOD FRIDAY 12 pm – Good Friday Meditation: "The Seven Last Words of Christ" - Msgr Vaghi 3:00 pm – Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday 4:00 - 5:00 pm – Parish Lenten Confessions 7:00 pm – Stations of the Cross
Saturday, April 3 HOLY SATURDAY No 5:00 pm Mass 12:00 Noon - 1:00 pm – Confessions
Sunday, April 4 EASTER SUNDAY
PASTORAL REFLECTION Fr Keith Burney
Even though it may seem premature in some ways, I think that many of us are feeling like there is finally "light at the end of the tunnel" to the pandemic, as more people are being vaccinated and as the Centers for Disease Control have released guidelines saying that vaccinated people can visit each other more freely than they have in the past year. As a priest, a part of that "light at the end of the tunnel" for me is looking forward to welcoming parishioners back to the regular celebration of the Sunday Mass here at Little Flower, when they're vaccinated and they feel it's safe to do so.
SEVEN WEEK ST JOSEPH SERIES On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter "Patris Corde - With a Father's Heart." It commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Saint Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. He proclaimed 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph. The Apostolic Letter features seven fatherly qualities of St. Joseph. I have reflected on these qualities and will share one with you each week beginning with the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19th) and ending on the Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker (May 1st) They include a Message, Reflection and Prayer, which have been adapted for you to ponder in your life of faith in today's world. I invite you to prayerfully reflect on the life and messages of St. Joseph and perhaps share your thoughts with your spouse, children or friends. - Sister Ann Parker IHM WEEK 2 - Tender & Loving Father Day by day, one job at a time, one meal, one task at a time, woven in the midst of a prayerful environment, is how I tried to live my life with Jesus and Mary. If I am considered a model of the tender love of God for my family, I give thanks to God. I never understood this as I carried out my daily routines, but if I reflected this to Jesus, that is what matters most to me. By no means was our life free from struggles, difficulties and fears, but I kept trying to do my best and keep trusting in God's plan.
The thought of being considered a tender and loving father is a bit overwhelming. However, I think that is something every father hopes for in his interaction with a child. I was just an ordinary man, a carpenter, seeking and fulfilling jobs to take care of my family. I was in charge, but God was in control. I loved my wife and the child I was privileged to raise. That bond of our love for God, and one another is what mattered the most to us, especially when fears and difficulties arose.
Reflection & Sharing Recall times in your childhood, when you experienced God's tender, loving care. Share thoughts of how Jesus must have felt the tender, loving care of Joseph. What does Joseph teach us about trying to model God's love for those in our care?
Prayers: St. Joseph, guide me in demonstrating your loving tenderness to those entrusted to my care.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. - Pope Francis
LENTEN PRAYERS FOR VOCATIONS During the Lenten season, we invite parishioners to pray each day for vocations. As a parish community, let us take these forty days to pray especially for those discerning a call to the religious life with the Archdiocese of Washington and the IHM Sisters. Please take a brochure at the back of church so you can follow along each day. You can also find the complete list and prayers to use on our website. This week we pray especially for:
Mar 26 - Aiden Perusse, Alexander Wyvill Mar 27 - Martin Begley, Deacon Nicholas Morrison Mar 29 - Liz McGill, IHM Mar 30 - for all those discerning a vocation Mar 31 - for an increase in vocations
MSGR VAGHI'S FIRST THURSDAY TALK
All are welcome to join us
April 1, 2021 at 7 am in the Church
Series Theme: "The Eternal Word in a Covid-19 World"
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY SUNDAY, APRIL 11
Beginning at 3:00 pm, we will have a holy hour dedicated to the Divine Mercy. The holy hour will include Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and an opportunity for Confession.
PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED – Please pray for the repose of the souls of Kathleen Annarella, Michael Bradshaw, Madeleine Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Vincent DeSomma, DDS, Thomas Dimond, Agnes Donahue, William Gildea, Kathleen Kelley, Robert Keyes, Daniel Klug, Beatrice Larson, Christopher Lent, Bonnie Marosy, Deacon John McGinness, Grace Mulvihill, Jean Ostmann, Ed Padelford, Shane Potts, John Sweeney, Joan Wells, J. William Whitty.
FOR THE SICK- Please pray for the sick members of our parish and for all who are in need. Keep these and all the intentions of our parish in your prayers.
GUIDELINES FOR MASS
The Church of the Little Flower is open for Sunday and weekday Masses.
The seriousness of this pandemic, however, dictates that we follow strict guidelines and important safety measures. Please carefully read the guidelines HERE.
Masks are required to be worn at all times when in church.
Dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation remains in effect. Many options are available for participating in Mass when we cannot be present at the liturgy. View the Archdiocese of Washington list of live-streamed (and recorded) Masses and Prayers.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Holy Week and Stewardship – We are entering the last week of Lent, the most intensely religious week of the year. As good Christian stewards of the time and the graces we have received from God, we should also live this week intensely, reliving the most important events in human history. Stewardship of our Faith and Spiritual Lives – Whether or not you have already gone to confession during this Lenten season, the words of the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, in his book Called to be Holy are especially timely. He writes that we should rely regularly on "the mercy of God (that is) abundant in the Sacrament of Penance." Cardinal Dolan further recommends daily examinations of conscience as a way to make regular confessions more fruitful. We praise God for our growth and ask Him to heal the faults we acknowledge. "During my whole life I have kept faithful to my practice of weekly confession." (St. John XXIII.)
Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land – Each year Catholics are invited to support Christianity in the Holy Land by participating in the Good Friday collection. All the clergy and religious working there deeply appreciate your help. Please give generously.
Poor Box Donations – Donations in March will go to the Catholic Charities Healthcare Network, which assists indigents with medical problems. It has more than 3,000 medical appointments a year and refers 3,000 more. Time and Talent - If you are a medical professional and would like to learn more about how you can make your pro-bono services available to the Network, please contact Sister Romana Uzodimma at 202-481-1424 or at romana.uzodimma@cc-dc.org.
ONLINE OFFERTORY We appreciate your continued financial support during Lent. Our preferred method of giving is through our online provider, Faith Direct. The secure enrollment process is simple and takes less than 3 minutes to complete. Please consider enrolling in Faith Direct or increasing your level of giving. You may also make a safe and secure one-time gift online. God bless and many thanks.
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