So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon
it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; be-hold, your King is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt
(Jn 12:13-15)!”

Today is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion during which we commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. In Liturgical Calendar preceding Vatican II, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sun-days before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week.

The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the “fullness of faith,” make their own
gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews’ example, we proclaim Christ as Victor… Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others and who was sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan. Jesus underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphantly from the tomb, the victor over death. Jesus makes our peace with God and takes us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.

Dear Parish Family, with the celebration of
Palm Sunday we begin Holy Week and we
have the opportunity to participate in the most
solemn and meaningful celebrations to pre-
pare us for our Easter Vigil and Sunday Litur-
gy. Please take advantage of the chance to
join us for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and our Blessing
of Easter Food and Baskets on Holy Saturday.
My love and prayers always,
Fr. Steve