Welcome to St. Henry's Catholic Church!

From Fr. Bob Hogan, BBD

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord:  This Sunday begins Holy Week.  This weekend we have two gospel stories.  At the beginning of Mass we hear the story about Jesus entering into Jerusalem at the beginning of this Holy Week.  During this week He will give us the Eucharist, and He will suffer, die and rise from the dead for us.  The people welcome Jesus as the “Son of David,” which means that they believed that He was the messiah, who was to be an ancestor of King David.  Jesus comes humbly riding on a donkey.  The people cry out words of praise to God:  “Hosanna!”  They use palm branches to honor Jesus.

The Passion of Jesus: We hear the gospel story of the passion and death of Jesus.  We hear how Jesus gave us His body and blood.  Taking bread He says, “This is my body which is given for you (and) my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.”  As Jesus is praying in the garden after the meal, He tells God that he does not want to have to suffer, but not His will but God’s will be done.  He then is arrested by the Jewish religious leaders; betrayed by His apostle Judas, and later denied three times by His apostle Simon Peter.  He is beaten, whipped, mocked, crowned with thorns, carries a heavy cross and then is crucified with nails through His hands and feet.  On the cross Jesus says, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.”  He is quoting Psalm 22.  You should read this whole psalm.  It starts out as a cry from a person in great pain, but it ends up as a psalm of God’s victory.  Jesus is in great pain, but He also knows that His death will bring victory over sin and the devil.  Jesus humbled himself in accepting death, but because of this God will greatly exalt Him, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bend in heaven and earth, and every tongue proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Holy Week:  Although we cannot have Masses open to the public this week, Fr. Bob and Fr. Sean will be leading Holy Thursday and Good Friday Services for a small group of 10.  We will be praying for everyone in our Church community, their families, our neighborhood, and the world.  We hope you can watch services on television or internet.  We are giving out missalettes with all the readings of Holy Week if you stop by the Church on Palm Sunday.  You can also receive the blessed Palms.  We can only let 10 people come into the Church at a time, but you are welcome to come by to receive your blessed palms and pray for a short time. Church will be open on Saturday 3pm-5pm and Sunday 8:30am-11:30pm

Finances:  I am very thankful for those who have continued to give a weekly donation to the Church through the mail; or dropping it off at the Church offices; or through the online web page; or through bringing it when they visit the Church on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.   Please keep the Church in mind with any way you can help financially.  We know this is a difficult time financially for many people.  Fr. Bob and Fr. Sean are not going to take any salary for at least one month.  We also had to make other cuts in salaries in order to pay our bills.

We love you!  You are all in our daily prayers. Trust in Jesus.  May Holy Week deepen your trust in Jesus and closeness to Him.  Support one another.  Give parishioners that you know a call, showing your care and saying a prayer together.  God bless you!

We will soon have online giving to make it easier for you to give!