ST. KIERAN CATHOLIC CHURCH March 28, 2021: Palm Sunday Holy Week Schedule Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Last Supper April 1st 7:00pm: Adoration until 10:00pm Good Friday April 2nd 11:00 am: Church Open for Prayer 12:00pm: Stations of the Cross 1:00pm: Seven Last Words 2:00pm: Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet 3:00pm: Proclamation of Our Lord's Passion Adoration of the Cross Communion Service Holy Saturday April 3rd 1:00pm : Blessing of Easter Baskets 8:30pm : Easter Vigil Easter Sunday Masses April 4th 8:00am 9:30am 11:30am The Parish Offices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday and will reopen on Tuesday April 6 at 9:00 am. St. Kieran Parish, Shelby Township Page 2 PLEASE PRAY FOR Mallia’s Moments THOSE REQUESTING PRAYER A Gospel reflection from Father Joe and an update on upcoming events happening around the parish Names will remain on our sick list for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks contact the Parish Office if you wish to place the name Welcome to Holy Week! Today, our yearly journey to recall and back on the list. Names will reflect upon the last moments in the life of Jesus here on this earth, the remain on our military list for 1 mystery of the salvation of all humanity from sin and his glorious year. resurrection from the dead has begun. But for most people, the major point of reflection is on the last days of Jesus on the earth. There is a failure to understand why he died and what was the result of that death. This is not about recalling how a man died, but it is about reflecting upon SICK LIST the ultimate meaning of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Andrew Akash Christ. Andy Antishin The failure to put the events within a religious context and the reluctance of some to understand them in the light of our faith only Steve Bartin limits them to a historical context which then leaves us with a Shirley Besler recollection of the past with no impact on the present. But Jesus died and rose from the dead. He is alive and is fully present, but more on that Kathleen Brest next week. Frances Burnett If we are then to recall and reflect in the light of religious truth, we Lucas Cauley must do so fully aware that the death and resurrection of Jesus were for one reason only, to conquer sin and death and to open for all of us a way Carla Daniels to eternal life. With that in mind, let us look at the celebrations we enter Marina Darling into. Richard Jakubec Today, we share in the joy of Palm Sunday and the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem. It must have been a loud event. Think about the Kevin Klott overcrowded streets of Jerusalem with all of its hustle and bustle for the Jesse Malczyk feast of Passover and then comes Jesus riding in on a donkey in a way Carmella Martz that recalled the ancient prophecy of the messiah. Chaos broke out between people, the Temple officials and the Roman soldiers. But what Pamela Mleczko this celebration should help us to think about is the fickleness of Alice Mirochna emotions. Being swayed by a crowd or a moment can lead us in directions but what it never leads us to conversion. As easily as the William Olszewski crowds proclaimed Jesus as king, they would get swept up in another Tom Petz emotion in just a couple of days, which called for his death. So, we are Fred Posavetz confronted with a profound question today: are we swept up by emotions even in our Christianity or are we Christians of conviction in Tom Sadowski the truth of who Jesus really is? Jerry Schroeder On Holy Thursday, the liturgy calls us to consider the power of Lisa Shadeck servant leadership and the role the Eucharist plays in being servants at heart not simply in action. As we ponder the words and actions of Jesus Tresa Spencer at the Last Supper, we focus on Jesus washing the feet of the disciples Bob Stamos and calling them to be servants of each other and then he centers this action within the context of the Eucharist to help us understand that MILITARY LIST without the Eucharist at our heart, our servanthood lacks its Drake Blight– NG transformational power in ourselves and others. The liturgy ends with the invitation from Jesus himself to spend time with him in prayer. Joseph Deagan-N Good Friday provides us an opportunity to take time to enter deeply Brian Hasse—N into the mystery of God’s love, a love so profound that the Father sent Spenser Horwedel-AF Christ into the world to die for our salvation (John 3:16 remember?). This year we are giving you all a chance to spend some time at church Mike Kwasnik-N and join in both public and private prayer. We open the church itself at Rick Kwasnik-N 11 am and then we will pray the Stations of the Cross at noon. At 1 pm Daniel Otten-A we will reflect on the last seven phrases of Jesus upon the cross and then at 2 pm we will pray the rosary and the prayers associated with the Joseph Pellerito– CG Divine Mercy novena. Capt Steven Pickett-M Finally, at 3 pm, we will celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion. All Jacob Risner-A these events are meant to help us focus on the meaning and not simply the action of the suffering and death of the Lord. As sad as this day is, Patrick Roberts-A we are to be filled with gratitude at God’s infinite love for us and it is the Scott Socia-AF experience of that love which transforms and motivates our lives. Continued on page 3 St. Kieran Parish, Shelby Township Page 3 MALLIA’S MOMENTS Deacon (continued) The peak of our celebration comes with the liturgies of the Russ Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday when we recall how Jesus Reflects overcame death and rose from the dead! Sin has been conquered, we are no longer captive and now our relationship with God has been renewed. This Today is Palm Sunday. It’s so very nice to be able to receive palms is the day of great celebration! this year and celebrate Christ our King’s entrance into Jerusalem! How can our hearts not be But, as we know, this also marks the beginning of the horrible transformed when we see with passion that Christ was to face on our behalf. I encourage you to our own eyes the power of an participate as much as you are able, in the Holy Week festivities that empty tomb! Jesus is alive, we are having at St. Kieran. It is a good way to get into the solemn because God’s love is greater spirit and right mindset that will enable you to truly celebrate the than any human sin and God did triumphant joy of Easter! not want us to languish in sin, This week’s saint is St. Ludovico of Casoria, whose feast day is but live in the power of a life and March 30th. Ludovico was born in Casoria, Italy, on March 11, 1814, love that overcame even the and given the name Arcangelo Palmentieri. He was an apprentice to darkest of human realities, death. a cabinet maker but joined the Friars Minor on July 1, 1832, which is when he took the name Ludovico. Ordained five years later, he That is why I want to invite all of taught philosophy, chemistry, and mathematics to the younger you to come to church and share members of the order. In 1847 Ludovico had a mystical experience in as many or all of these which he described as “cleansing.” Because of this, he dedicated his celebrations. Personally, Easter life to serving the poor and needy and founded many different makes much more sense when dispensaries and orphanages. we do celebrate all of these events and not simply move from In 1852 he opened a school for freed slave children, and he also Palm Sunday to Easter without formed institutes for the deaf and the mute. He was interested in the full context. Most the care of the elderly as well, and began charitable institutes in importantly though, we come to Naples, Florence, and Assisi. Ludovico’s superiors advised him to a more profound experience of find others to whom he could entrust his work. So in 1859, he the mystery of our salvation if we founded the Gray Brothers, which was made up of men who had share in and properly reflect on formerly belonged to the Secular Franciscans. Three years later in all that God has done for us 1862 he formed the Gray Sisters, which was to be the female branch through these liturgies. of the order. He placed them under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of I know that some of you will Hungary, one of the first members of the Third Order of the be going away for a vacation, but Franciscans. know that there is no vacation Sadly, in 1876, Ludovico was struck with a serious and painful illness from God. I would hope that you from which he never fully recovered. He suffered for nine long years, would plan on making time for entering eternal life on March 30th. The cause for his sainthood the Lord in the midst of all the began just months after his death, and he was finally canonized by other activities you are thinking about.