I was talking to someone, the other day, about the Easter Vigil liturgy and the fact that since I was 7 or 8 years old, I have not missed participating in the "holiest" and most "beautiful" night of the Church's year, except in the early time of the COVID pandemic when we did not have it since we were restricted from gathering for the Triduum. While I did the Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies that year with only a few helpers present and had them posted for people to watch and participate at home, I chose (in part for practical reasons) not to celebrate the Easter Vigil liturgy. Even if we had been able to livestream it, I don't believe I would have done it because one truly needs to be there to make it the blessing it is meant to be for those who "come" to it. To not gather in the "darkness" outside especially symbolic that night of death, and witness the Easter Candle been marked with symbols of Christ, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, to whom all time belongs; and to see the Easter Candle lit and focusing on that flame (light) as we walk behind it in the darkness, would mean missing something that makes the Easter Vigil so special and powerful. Our movements outside of church and inside of church bearing individual candles lit from the Easter Candle speaks to every person there that Christ is OUR LIGHT, who overcame and overcomes the darkness of death. With all the lights in the church turned on after the deacon sings "Christ Our Light" for the third time, we listen to the Easter Proclamation (also known as the Exsultet) as it beautifully proclaims the significance of God's plan of Salvation History and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ especially in and through His passion, death and resurrection. There are other unique visuals and actions for us to see and participate in that night that makes this liturgy "not to be missed" by all Catholics (though we recognize some can't come for health and other impairment reasons). Starting in the dark of night certainly means ending past some of our bedtimes (like me). I would hope that many of us can make this sacrifice out of love for the Lord and the blessings he gives us while we are there. As far as the liturgy being LONG, the Church (and I) would say that any and all time given to the Lord has the potential to bless us and others long after this unique liturgy is ended. I will honestly say at no point, no matter what age I was, did I hesitate to participate in the Easter Vigil because of its length. That speaks among other things of the impact it has made and continues to make on me. It ALWAYS makes me a little sad at the end of the liturgy that I have to wait another year (and this time more than a year, April 19, 2025) to participate in the "The Holiest Night" of the year the Easter Vigil!!! (Please read more about the Vigil in the handout we made available this weekend).

With the celebration of Laetare Sunday (The Fourth Sunday of Lent) we are over halfway through our Lenten journey and like any journey, there is always a destination to reach. Once we reach the end of that journey, we immediately begin another journey that is much shorter in length (about 72 hours), but is potentially so powerful in the spiritual effect that it can have on us that it has been called "The Great Three Days' (The Paschal Triduum). After celebrating Passion/Palm Sunday and the first three days of "Holy Week", Holy Thursday evening starts scripturally with the account of Passover when the destroying angel passed over the Jewish homes and they started their journey to freedom through the Red Sea. We then recall through the writings of St. Paul (1 Cor. 11: 23-26) his account of the Last Supper when Jesus spoke the words "This is my body" and "This cup is the new covenant in my blood", along with the command to "Do this in remembrance of me." When we come to Mass that evening, we should notice something different in that the tabernacle is empty of the Eucharist as we will consume the Body and Blood of the Lord that is consecrated at that Mass that evening as well as in the liturgy of Good Friday (which is the only day in the whole year when the Mass is NOT celebrated). At the Holy Thursday evening liturgy we "remember" Jesus' great act of humility and service when the Celebrant washes the feet of representatives of the parish and we are all called to "wash one another's feet" in humble acts of service for others. In this beautiful liturgy we sing the Gloria with the ringing of bells throughout and a silence of the bells until the Gloria is sung again at the Easter Vigil. The Holy Oils that were blessed and consecrated by Bishop Taylor earlier in the week at the Chrism Mass are presented at this liturgy and are placed in the ambry in the entryway into the Church proper for use in Baptisms, Confirmations, and for the Anointing of the Sick until next year's Holy Week. Finally, after Communion, there is a transfer of the Holy Eucharist to a special altar of reposition led by the cross and candles and incense and we are encouraged to stay for a while or come back for Solemn Eucharistic Adoration until Midnight. Regular Eucharistic Adorers are strongly encouraged to come for their Holy Hour and spend it in prayer either in the chapel or the church as we don't abandon Jesus during the Triduum as the apostles abandoned him after his arrest. The liturgy that started with song (at 6:30) concludes in silence with no blessing and dismissal as we normally do at the end of Mass. We depart quietly and the liturgy pauses until 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday). Next week's pastor's column will be a summary of what we can anticipate and prepare for, before coming back to church for the liturgy of Good Friday.

I'm sure we all know the familiar hymn, "All Are Welcome" which speaks of a hospitable demeanor that we are called to have individually and as a church community to all who would seek to enter this place. Recently a discussion took place at one of our parish commissions about the "big event" coming up on April 8. Many visitors are expected to come to the Village to view the total solar eclipse. Our church parking lot, as well as many other places might be filled with parishioners, other Villagers and visitors who want an unobstructed view of this rare occurrence. The discussion at the meeting involved whether or not we should lock the doors of our parish building out of safety concerns for our facility. This would obviously prevent people from using our bathroom facilities while they are parked in our parking lot. In the end I decided, for various reasons, to allow our people to be welcomed into our facility on the upper level to use our restrooms. We may or may not lock some of our interior doors and have volunteers inside in the narthex to welcome people and keep an eye on things as Eucharistic Adorers come and go for their hour and are allowed to park under the portico in front of our church during their hour. I believe that it is important to be transparent about the things that happen on our parish grounds outside of our liturgical gatherings where all are welcome to join us in giving praise and worship to God.

Recently, I was approached by a group of people who are in real need of a place for their Thursday/Sunday evening Alcoholics Anonymous meeting due to an ongoing flooding issue in another Village church where they have been meeting. Knowing that other churches have opened their doors to those in this program that helps those suffering from alcoholism to work the 12 step program to help them stay sober, I was inclined to say yes to this request. After consulting a number of people, the decision was made to welcome them to use one of our classrooms in the administration wing of our facility. The leaders as well as the participants will park in our small parking lot off Ponderosa Street and come in the side door by our church office. The doors leading from our administration hallway into the narthex of our church will be locked, so access to that area leading to our chapel will be restricted to parishioners who come in at night through the coded keypad. I truly believe (and hope you do as well) that we are doing a Christ-like thing to welcome those who are trying (with help) to stay sober and be productive for their own sake and for others as well. Please pray for all those who are suffering from addictions that they will seek the help they need and in so doing, find doors of buildings and hearts open to them.