ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH — P.O. 299 — DANBURY, TEXAS 77534 Pastor: Fr. Joseph Phiet-The-Nguyen Deacon: Gerald Peltier Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop

NEWS LETTER FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020

Message from the desk of the Pastor……..

My dear people of God,

Today we begin Holy Week. It is a time to remember the marvelous love of God, our Father, for each of us. Palm Sunday is a joyous solemnity in which we recall the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Now we can walk with Christ for the last days of his life on earth. I always ask the question on Palm Sunday… “Where were those same people on Good Friday?” Today we have to ask ourselves that question, “Where will we be this week?” I urge all our parishioners to observe this Holy Week in a deep spirit of prayer. Jesus enters Jerusalem in meekness and humility as the Messianic King who offers victory and peace to his people. That victory and peace would be secured in the cross and resurrection which would soon take place at the time of Passover. St. Augustine comments on the significance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem: “ The Master of humility is Christ who humbled himself and became obedient even to death, even the death of the cross. Jesus Christ came to bring us the kingdom of God. He is the true king who offers peace, joy and everlasting life for those who accept his kingship. Does the king of glory find a welcome entry in your heart and home? Lord Jesus, be the King and Ruler of my heart, mind, life, and home. May my life reflect your meekness and humility that you may be honored as the King of Glory! May God bless you. Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Joseph

Saint Michael the Archangel Collection Totals for: March 28th / 29th, 2020 St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense Regular Weekend Offerings $2,500.00 Seek & Find against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke Additional On-Line Giving Donations $1,365.00 Answer: him, we humbly pray and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, “surely it is not I Thank you for your generous donations. God bless! by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil Online Giving: www.osvonlinegiving.com/1880 Lord...” spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer Him sacrifices. Kylie’s Corner -Proverbs 21:3

Sacrifice. What exactly does that word mean? Sacrifice means that we give up whatever we have to God - what we enjoy, our phones, going to places, etc. We make sacrifices every day without realizing it! Today, more than ever, we are making sacrifices. I keep thinking about this - it's so ironic that this outbreak happened during Lent and it's get- ting close to Easter. What if Jesus does come because you know, after He died on the cross, three days later He resur- rected! Every year during Lent, we all give up something. Today, we are told to give up so many things - we can't go to malls, restaurants (only curbside pickup), churches (most churches go live on Sunday mornings now), parks, li- braries, hair and nail salons, school (online classes now), seeing your friends and relatives. We are told to stay at home. Isn't that difficult to do? God is asking so much of us, right? What Jesus has done for us is still such a huge sacrifice. He didn't just carry His cross while being beaten to death for nothing. He didn't just have a total of four nails in Him for nothing. He didn't have a crown of thorns around His head for nothing. Why? He carried the cross for the longest time by Himself and He did it because of us. Because of you. Yes, you! So, during this time, we should not complain about how we're stuck in the house because we are making sacrifices as we speak. Sacrifices are hard, but once we persevere and find the light through this dark tunnel, everything is going to be worth it. Please lis- ten to the song, "Until Grace" by Tauren Wells Featuring Rascal Flatts. "I might be looking at a future full of ques- tion marks, but I don't have all of the answers if You have my heart. In You, I'm finding redemption a little more with every breath. Brand new like the morning and I'll never forget that...Until grace called my name, I didn't know I could be free until grace found me."

If you want to read more of Kylie’s inspirational writings, please feel free to check out her blog: https://inspirationalwritingsbykylieceline.com

During the chaotic issues and fears of the current virus concerns, the Church’s financial system and the Faith Community are unable to assist those in need. Your contribu- It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore tions, prayers, and support has never been needed more! Options for Donating to the throat, 5-year-old Johnny stayed home from Church: church with a sitter. When the family re- Online Giving: www.osvonlinegiving.com/1880 turned home, they were carrying several [Our Sunday Visitor] palm fronds. Johnny asked them what they Visit St. Anthony’s Website [www.saopdtx.org] were for. Instructions for Online Giving are on the Home Page [very simple] Or "People held them over Jesus' head as he Mailed to the Church: walked by," his father told him. St. Anthony Catholic Church "Wouldn't you know it," Johnny fumed, PO Box 299, Danbury, TX 77534 "the one Sunday I don't go and he shows up." Please do not mail to the Physical Address

D C R O W D O N K E Y S P P U A Prayer to Jesus for Healing: B A R A B B A S E H C N A R B Dear Lord, You are the Just judge, Holy and True. You are the Most High God. You R G E S K A O L C F O S L E S give us life. You hold all power in your hands. You are the Mighty one from God who carries the world, and is ruler over all the E N T R L Y I R O S C I M V W earth. You Oh Most Blessed One are the giver of life. In you are only good things. In S I E T B L O O O H K I S O E you is mercy and love. In you is healing of the nations. In you is freedom of worry and freedom of pain. E K H S A S T N A T C G U S J Lord Almighty, You loved us so much. You were sent from your Father, sent to save L E P G S S O L R E R E N S E us from destruction. We truly can never make it to Heaven without the help of Jesus P H O N T F M I V R O T D A R the Son, who was sent to earth to help us. You, Lord are full of mercy and grace, please forgive us for our faults. Lord Jesus, in I T R E D Y U O E A W H A P U you all healing is performed. You Lord are the miracle worker. In your Spirit, your C T P A S M N O I Z S S Y N S gift of healing is alive. In you Lord we can put our trust that you can heal us, and S S V T P T P I L A T E I M A protect us from the enemy, and death of our soul. You, Lord are miracle worker for the sick, and for the lost souls. You, Lord forgive I I E R H O S A N N A M A E L us and save us from condemnation. You cleanse us and make us born again new. D R O L F O N O I S S A P L E You give us a clean heart full of peace. You Lord are the Light. In You is all truth. Your way Lord is the way to Heavenly Hope. Your hands Lord created the universe. Y H S E V I L O F O T N U O M You Lord are the True giver of Life. Every child is a miracle of Life. Life rests in B C B B E T H P H A G E C S I Your Hands. Wrap us as a close knit family, draw us near to you Lord, and bind us with your Lov- Palm Sunday Word Search: Barabbas, Beth- ing Hands. Let us be drawn closer to You. You are the Vine, dear Lord and we are phage, Branches, Bread, Christ the King, Cloaks, the branches. You carry all knowledge and all power. You Lord are our medicine. Cock Crows, Cross, Crowd, Cup, Disciples, Don- Your Words Lord are Truth and Life. key, Footsteps, Galilee, Gethsemane, Hosanna, Help us put our trust in You. You Lord are the greatest physician. You heal, You Jerusalem, Jews, Mount of Olives, Nazareth, Palm protect, You care, You love, You are kind, You are patient, You are thoughtful, You are strength. You Lord are our Creator. You know our thoughts, our sighings Sunday, Paschal Mystery, Passion of Lord, Passo- and our cryings and every hair on our head. You are Wonderful and make all good ver, Pilate, Prophet, Solemn, Son of David, Tri- things for us. Heal us Lord, if it be Your will. Amen. umph, Veil, Zion [ 19 ] Remaining letters spell out what? Blessed Amelia (child) & Family Kerrie Gore Larry Mercado Jackson Sanders Mary Achille Josie Gutierrez Catherine Moore Brandie Schwertner Camilla Adiles Henry Hearn Valentina Morales Charles & Mildred Scott Is the One Kyle Atkins Pray for Charles Herbst Randy Newton Christopher Shepherd Mary Jo Atkinson Tom Herron Mary & Henry Novak Bill Siegel who comes Mike Bachus all on the Landin Hoffman Peggy Novak Betty Smith Tracy Bazaar prayer Brook Jeter Johnny Olsovsky, Jr. Brenda & Louie Smith Barbara Beer Libby Jez Scott Osborne Josef Sterzinger in the Name Larry Blasuis list ! Dorothy Prihoda Jones Kirk & Stacy Karen Summers Larelle Bockhoff Scott Kidwell Oswald Family Rey & Paula Tenorio Eleanor Boeker Charles Kolafa Chuck Pate Will Thomson of the Lord. Marvin & Rosemary Bozarth Michael & Terri Korenek Judy Pate Benjamin Thompson Francis Buchta Traci Kroll Sarah Filipp Peel Charles Tousek Jane Carlile Jamie Larson Irene Peltier Carol Unsicker —Matthew Luke Carrillo Evelyn Lassman Randy Peltier Nancy Veselka Mark Clifford Mary F. LeCompte Robyn Peltier Jeanette Vrazel Richard & Dolores Clinton Adan Lewis Tricia Wollam Perk Mildred Vrazel Kathy Coiro Fiona Lewis Butch & Sharon Peterson Pat & Louis Vrazel Pro Life Corner: God does not Lula Corona Thomas Lewis John Peterson Hudson Walker Bernadette Dawn We pray Claudette Linville Betty Ann Plander Michael Ward love us because we are valua- ble. We are valuable because Joyce Dixon for all in Dean Lowry Deone Raschke Dinah Weil Lupe Estrada Henrietta McAdams & Family Joe Rivera Eli Wendel God loves us. God loves every James Fief our daily Al McEndree Betty Jo Ritz Marianne Whitley Tennie Fief Doug McKay Janice Roberts David Wilson child He sends into the Veronica Gardner prayers! Guy McNeil Walter Barret Robinson Gerald Wittman world. Pray and work to end Jacko Garrett Joe & Amanda Romero Charlotte Wollam abortion and euthanasia.

Livestreaming Masses on St Anthony’s Facebook Page: Palm Sunday into Holy Week & Easter: These Masses are closed to the Public per the Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Per Cardinal DiNardo. Essential people will be the only ones allowed in the church at the time of these Masses. The doors will be locked and remain locked until after the services. Your families and the community will all be remembered at these masses.

*************************************************** ATTENTION: Palm Sunday Mass, April 5th @ 10:00 am — Closed to the public Concerning the handling of the  Mass begins in the sanctuary and proceeds in the normal manner according to specified Palms rubrics of the Roman Missal.

 Palms will be blessed.  Following the closed mass @ 10:00 am — Parishioners are welcome to stop by the church Please be considerate and pick up a Palm for their family. &  They will be located either outside the church or inside the glass doors depending on the weather. An announcement will be made at the mass to what is decided at the respectful of others time. ********************************************* PLEASE TOUCH Holy Week Masses: Closed Mass to Public — Livestream Only ONLY THE PALMS

Holy Thursday, The Lord’s Supper, April 9th @ 7:00 pm — Closed to the public YOU ARE TAKING  The washing of feet is omitted.  The procession of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass is also omitted. “No Open” Adoration at the church: “”Following the mass we ask each family to please, in their homes, do a Special Adoration with your family.””  Plan a time of prayer. ***************************************************************************************************************** Good Friday Passion of the Lord Liturgy, April 10th @ 3:00 pm — Closed to the public  Veneration of the Cross [Father Joseph is the only one to kiss the Cross]  Following the Mass—””The Livestream will remain on “Focused on the Cross” in front of the Altar for 30 minutes as you and your family, at home, are invited to adore in silence through your gaze [remotely]. This is a time for you and your family to have a time to pray before the Cross together.””

Prayer for an end to the pandemic: Let us pray, dearly beloved, for a swift end to the coronavirus pandemic that afflicts our world, that our God and Father will heal the sick, strengthen those who care for them, and help us all to persevere in faith.

 Stations of the Cross: Different Churches are Livestreaming the Stations *****************************************************************************************************************

Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 11th @ 8:30 pm — Closed to the public  The lighting and blessing of an Easter fire is omitted as is the procession.  Mass begins with the preparation and lighting of the Paschal Candle in the sanctuary.  For the Baptismal Liturgy, all rites are omitted except for the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.  Father Joseph will bless a small amount of water in a ritual for occasions during which no one is to be baptized and water for the font is not being blessed.  At our homes we all recite the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.  No Baptisms at this time [until further notice]  Prepared Catechumens & Candidates for Full Communion will come into the Church at another time when scheduled. Please keep them in prayer. ****************************************************************************************************************

Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord, April 12th @ 10:00 am — Closed to the public  Renewal of Baptismal Promises

God as we walk through Holy week toward the cross, May we remember the wonder of who you are. Beyond sin your love is inexhaustible, Beyond brokenness your forgiveness is incomprehensible. Beyond betrayal your grace is poured out eternally, Beyond death your life is unimaginable. Beyond human understanding, Your ways are always higher than ours.