The first reading from the book of Isaiah gives voice to the suffering of an innocent person—perhaps a prophet—or the people as a whole. The refrain for the Psalm is ’ cry from the cross (Mark 13:14), a cry of absolute, existential loneliness. The great kenotic (emptying) hymn in Philippians provides a stunning portrait of Jesus’ ultimate emptying, simultaneously intimate and cosmological.

. . . AND INTIMACY A PREVIEW OF HOLY WEEK All four Gospels have a Passion narrative. While marks the beginning of Holy there is agreement on the main events—an intimate Week and previews its themes and events. Today’s meal shared by Jesus and the disciples, betrayal by liturgy begins with the commemoration of Jesus’ Judas, prayer in Gethsemane followed by Jesus’ arrest, entry into Jerusalem. The Roman Missal gives trial, and crucifixion—each Gospel has unique variations three options for how this can be done, the most that give it a particular meaning or tone. In today’s elaborate of which begins with the priest, Gospel from Mark, Jesus is anointed by an unnamed ministers, and the entire assembly outside. The woman in the house of . All the Gospels Gospel account of the entry is read, after which have Jesus being anointed by a woman, but only Mark palms are blessed and distributed. Then everyone puts this scene just before the . Jesus says enters the church in procession, singing songs or the anointing is preparation for his burial; it is as if the psalms. However, the joy is temporary; the Passion woman could see a prophet’s suffering in Jesus’ life and narratives recounts how, after an intimate meal feel it in his presence. Moved by compassion, she empties with his disciples a few days later, Jesus is her jar of expensive nard on his head, pouring out her arrested, tortured, crucified, and buried. The reading love in a profoundly intimate act. Perhaps she will also from Isaiah is one of four Suffering Servant songs, join the women who witness the crucifixion from afar while the psalm likewise gives voice to the suffering (Mark 15:40-41), after the Twelve seem to be long gone. of the innocent. The reading from Philippians Palm Sunday invites us to follow Jesus through the affirms the Incarnation as God’s embrace of the rest of Holy Week. By moving us to feel the injustice entire human situation, including suffering and death. and the suffering endured by Jesus, this week’s liturgies and devotions present us with those same choices. SUFFERING . . . Perhaps, like the unnamed woman, we can open It may be Palm Sunday, but the Passion is far ourselves to others’ suffering and respond with love and more prominent in today’s liturgy, which invites compassion. Or perhaps, like the Twelve, we will be us to follow Jesus from his triumphant entrance conspicuous by our absence. into Jerusalem to his crucifixion and burial. It simply over flows with the sorrow and intimacy that will Today’s Readings: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, be dominant themes in Holy Week. 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Mark 14:1- -15:47.

Saint Catholic Parish Robstown, Texas and Saint Patrick Mission, San Patricio, Texas

DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS • 16602 FM 624 • Robstown, Texas 78380 Phone: 361-387-1312 or 361-387-7842 • Fax: 361-387-9311 Website: www.christon624.com • Email: [email protected] Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Pastor: Rev. Philip J. Panackal Deacon: Bill Cleavelin (361-208-2146) Sacristan: Jerry Knesek Secretary: Ann Clarke DRE: Michele Hoelscher (361-244-2138) Music Director: Vic Benys Bookkeeper: Anna Ramos EDGE: J. T. Tovar Plant Manager: Gary Clarke Housekeeper: Yolanda Tobòn LIFETEEN: Rachel Unterbrink Custodian: J. T. Tovar Knights of Columbus Council #9318 Catholic Daughters of America Court #2290

Holy Day Vigil @ St. Thomas: 6:30 PM Holy Day Mass @ St. Thomas: 12:05 PM Saturday Vigil Mass @ St. Thomas: 5:30 PM Sunday Masses @ St. Thomas: 8 AM & 11 AM Weekday Masses @ St. Thomas: 12:05 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday CONFESSIONS @ St. Thomas: 30 Minutes before Masses or by appointment

Saturday Vigil Mass @ St. Patrick: 4:00 PM Holy Day Mass @ St. Patrick: 8:00 AM CONFESSIONS @ St. Patrick: 3:30 PM PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION MARCH 27 - 28, 2021

LECTORS AND USHERS for APRIL 3-4, 2021 “Christ Jesus humbled himself, Saturday, 5:30 PM: Volunteers becoming obedient to the point of death, Sunday, 8:00 AM: Volunteers even death on a cross.” Sunday, 11:00 AM: Volunteers St. Thomas the Apostle - Philippians 2 : 8 Please Pray for ... Masses and Intentions for the Week All the homebound, sick and suffering of our parish.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 Especially all those who have asked us to pray for them. 4:00 PM: Mass @ St. Patrick Mission Elaine McCown, Nina Riebschleager, Cathy Sikes, Geneva Lintner, †Glen and †Mary Dawson by Tom Dawson JoAnn Hartman, Louise Rathke, Rick Chavarry, Jesus A. Serna, 5:30 PM: Collective Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle John and Rosemary Floyd, Patrick Nemec, Aida Deases, Chris Hill, †Harlew Conally by Betty Conally Patrick Knesek, Charlie & Jean Chapman, Dee Molina, Fran Prukop, † Bobbie Hans by Mary Ann Hans Lincoln Polasek, Amy Markowski, Emil & Mary Jo Prukop, and † Boone Hans by Mary Ann Hans Hattie Kotara, Margaret Sanchez, Harold Prejean, Gina Wernig, †Glen and †Mary Dawson by Tom Dawson Tim Wright, Linda V. Lindsey and Pearla Castillo.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 PALM SUNDAY Please call/email the rectory office to include a person on the 2021 PRAYER LIST. Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle 8:00 AM: Parishioners † O ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE 11:00 AM: Deceased Members of the Diegel/Landreth Families F by Jim & Pat Landreth F 3/20-21/2021 Regular Collection: $7,124.47 E 3/15-21/2021 Online Giving: $1,193.00 MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 - NO MASS R I ST. PATRICK MISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 - Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle N 3/20/2021 Regular Collection: $340.00 12:05 PM: †Peggy Knesek by Michael Rektorik G www.christon624.com

S 3/29 Money Counters: Jerry Knesek & David Tamez WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 - Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle 12:05 PM: †Deacon Alan and †Diana Borse by the Borse Family SECOND COLLECTION - APRIL 2, 2021

HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 - Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle The Holy Land Collection 7:00 PM: †All Souls in Purgatory by Jerry Knesek Diocese of Corpus Christi GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 - @ St. Thomas the Apostle 2:30 PM: Stations of the Cross, DIVINE MERCY NOVENA, LENTEN REGULATIONS Passion Narratives, Good Friday Services Lent is the penitential season of the Church HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EASTER SUNDAY VIGIL year. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy 5:00 PM: Mass @ St. Patrick Mission †Glen and †Mary Dawson by Tom Dawson Thursday. Traditionally, the Lenten Season is a time of 6:00 PM: DIVINE MERCY NOVENA penance throughout the Catholic Church. Easter Duty is 7:00 PM: Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle the obligation to receive Holy Communion between the

Special Intentions of James O’Brien by Elizabeth O’Brien First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday. SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2021 EASTER SUNDAY All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle Fasting binds all Catholics 18 to 59 years of age. On 8:00 AM: Parishioners 11:00 AM: †Allen Migura by Owen & Kim Gallagher days of fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, 6:00 PM: DIVINE MERCY NOVENA sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken in accordance to each one’s needs, but together should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, St. Thomas the Apostle/St. Patrick Mission Website: www.christon624.com but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence. RELIGIOUS ED NEWS Abstinence binds all older than 14. On days of abstinence no meat is allowed. When health or ability to work would Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 2:00 PM - CONFIRMATION be seriously affected, the law does not oblige Pastor for students in our Confirmation II Class will take place at St. Thomas the Apostle. I CAN, YOU CAN, WE CAN all make a difference, 40 CANS FOR LENT one CAN at a time. Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 6:00 PM - FIRST CONFESSION The Knights of Columbus Council for our students in our Communion II Class (3rd Grade) #9318 of St. Thomas the Apostle are will take place at St. Thomas the Apostle. sponsoring a food drive during Lent. Friday, May 14, 2021 at 6:30 PM - FIRST HOLY One can of food for each day of Lent. Bring your cans at any COMMUNION for our students in our Communion II Class time and place them in the box provided in the foyer of the (3rd Grade) will take place at St. Thomas the Apostle. church. At the end of the Lenten season, the food will be Michele Hoelscher, DRE (361-244-2138) distributed to the ARK. Tony Arredondo, Grand Knight PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION MARCH 27 - 28, 2021

LITURGY OF THE DAY Scripture is quoted only once, but there are several references

to the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Jesus understood his anointing Background on the Gospel Reading (Mark 14:1-15:47) in Bethany as an anticipation of his burial, and he announced that

This Sunday, called Palm or Passion Sunday, is the this story would be told together with the Gospel throughout the first day of Holy Week. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the world. Jesus predicted his betrayal by Judas as well as Peter’s Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are called the Triduum— denial. At his arrest, Jesus acknowledged that the preordained three days that are the highlight of the Church year. There time had arrived. Jesus was both confident and silent before are two Gospels proclaimed at today’s Mass. The first Gospel, his accusers. After he was sentenced to death, Jesus did not proclaimed before the procession with palms, tells of Jesus’ speak again until his final cry from the cross. The bystanders triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Riding on a borrowed misunderstood and believed that he was calling for Elijah. colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they blessed God The Roman centurion, however, affirmed what Mark has presented and shouted “Hosanna!” This event is reported in each of the throughout this Gospel: Jesus is the Son of God. Nowhere was four Gospels. this revealed more fully than in his death on the cross. At the Liturgy of the Word on Palm Sunday, the events During Holy Week, we prayerfully remember the events of Jesus’ passion are proclaimed in their entirety. In Lectionary of Jesus’ passion and death. As we meditate on the cross, we Cycle B, we read the passion of Jesus as found in the Gospel ask again and anew what it means to make the statement of of Mark. We will hear these events proclaimed again when faith that Jesus, in his obedient suffering and dying, revealed we celebrate the Triduum later in the week. On Good Friday, himself to us as God’s Son. From the Pastor’s desk we will read the passion of Jesus from the . In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ passion and death are presented GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING TO 100% CAPACITY as the consequence of the tension between the Jewish Church Buildings: authorities and Jesus that had been building throughout his ♦ Hand sanitizer should be kept available at each entrance. public ministry. This tension reached its breaking point when ♦ All pews are now open. Jesus drove the merchants and moneychangers from the ♦ Holy Water fonts will remain empty for now. Temple. After this event, the chief priests and scribes began ♦ Facilities must be cleaned and sanitized after each use. seeking a way to put Jesus to death, and yet, this is only the Distribution of the Eucharist: surface explanation for his death. ♦ When Jesus was arrested and brought before the Reception of the Sacred Body is to be received on the Sanhedrin—the council of Jewish priests, scribes, and elders— hand. Special arrangement to receive by mouth is possible. he was charged with blasphemy, citing his threat to the Parishioner’s Interaction during Mass/Liturgy: ♦ Temple. When he was brought before Pilate, however, the Parishioners should refrain from shaking hands during religious authorities presented his crime as a political one, the Sign of Peace. charging that Jesus claimed to be king of the Jews. In continuity ♦ Parishioners should refrain from holding hands during with a theme of Mark’s Gospel, the messianic claim of Jesus is the Lord’s Prayer. widely misunderstood. ♦ Face coverings and respectful distancing is encouraged. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are rarely models of faith As a Reminder: and do little to invoke confidence in their capacity to continue ♦ Those who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to his ministry after his death. They fare no better in Mark’s a person who is COVID positive within 7 days should narrative of Jesus’ passion and death. At the Last Supper, the remain home, in accordance with national, state, and local disciples insisted that none among them would betray Jesus. health directives. When Jesus predicted that their faith would be shaken in the ♦ Those who are at risk because of an underlying health events ahead, Peter and the other disciples protested issue (immune compromised) and those who are elderly vehemently. Yet in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus returned are strongly encouraged, for their own health, to avoid the three times to find them sleeping. Jesus prayed in agony over risk of attending public celebrations of the Mass, unless his impending fate while his disciples slumbered through the they have been vaccinated. Pastor night. Just as Jesus predicted, Peter denied Jesus, and the disciples were absent during Jesus’ passion and death. Only PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. the women who had been followers of Jesus in Galilee are said to have been present at the Crucifixion, but they remained INFORMATION CORNER at a distance.

Throughout this Gospel, Mark challenges the reader to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. consider the claim with which the Gospel begins: Jesus is the Baptism: Call the parish office to register for the Sacrament of Son of God. When we read Mark’s account of the passion, Baptism. All paperwork must be completed before attending class we begin to comprehend the deeper theological statement or scheduling Baptism. See website for more information. being made about Jesus’ death. In Mark’s telling of the passion Bulletin: Bulletin announcements are due on Monday by 1:00 PM. narrative, Jesus understood his death to have been preordained, and he accepted this death in obedience to God’s will. Jewish Confession: 30 minutes before Masses or by appointment. Hannelore Schleicher SAWYER-GEORGE CharterBank ABR, GRI, SRES FUNERAL HOME “Celebrating 50 Years of Great Realtor “Our Family Serving Your Family” Community Banking” Your 361-813-5152 Leopard at McKinzie (361) 242-3205 241-7681 ad [email protected] 801 Navigation 12497 Leopard St. Member www.Corpus-Christi-Real-Estate-and-Homes.com 884-7681 FDIC could be in this space!

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