The Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) March 16, 2008  MASSES OF THE WEEK Saturday     8:00 AM  ✝Fr. James Dolan, S.J.                                            (Betsy Dolan)                    5:00 PM  ✝David Perry                                            (Bunny Perry & Family) Sunday       7:30 AM  ✝Sara Wade                                            (Al & Joan Gerard)                   8:45 AM   PALM PROCESSION                    9:00 AM  ✝Soledad Sison                                            (Ludy & Abel Ventura)                  10:45 AM  ✝Josephine Masternak                                            (Joanne & Doug Bliven)                  12:15 PM  *✝Seton Seniors                    5:00 PM  *People of the Parish Monday      6:30 AM  ✝Stephen Traficanti (Parents)                    8:00 AM  ✝Thomas Patrick Clifford                                            (Daughter, Shirley Smolley) Tuesday      6:30 AM  ✝John Bolton                                            (Bette J. Reed)                    8:00 AM  ✝Carman & Rosse Gannotti                                            (Carman Gannotti)                     7:00 PM    In honor of St. Philomena                                            (Maria Silva) Wednesday 6:30 AM  ✝Peter Robey                                            (Chris Robey)                     8:00 AM  ✝Souls in Purgatory                                            (Chris Espiritu) Holy Thursday    7:30 PM  Bilingual Mass of the Lord’s                                          Supper; Eucharistic Adoration until                                          Midnight in the Parish Center Good Friday       5:00 PM  Celebration of the Lord’s Passion                                          (Spanish)                           7:30 PM  Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday     8:00 PM  Easter Vigil                                            *People of the Parish                          10:45 PM  Spanish Easter Vigil            Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008                    7:30 AM  Priest’s Intentions                    9:00 AM  Priest’s Intentions                  10:45 AM  Priest’s Intentions                  12:15 PM  Priest’s Intentions                    2:00 PM  Spanish *Living       †Deceased For all those for whom we have been asked to pray, and especially for parishioners and family members. * Remember all the dearly departed, family members and parishioners. *Please Note: Names of parishioners and family members are generally omitted from the Prayer Intentions in the online versions of the Parish Bulletin out of respect for online privacy. Please see the printed edition for listings of names.] If you would like someone to be placed on our prayer list for the sick or the deceased in the bulletin, please call the parish office: 301-924-3838.

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4 or I Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9. Daily readings can be found on our website. SPIRITUAL LIFE AND WORSHIP  ADORATION: Held Mondays, 3-6 PM; Tues.-Fri.: 8:30-12 PM; First Fridays, after the 8AM Mass until Benediction at 7:45 PM. EUCHARISTIC HEALING SERVICE: Held at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Monday of every month. Deacon Bill Vita presides. EUCHARISTIC HOME MINISTRY: Eucharistic Ministers take the Holy Eucharist to the sick or homebound on Sundays. Please call the parish office or Al Opdenaker, (301) 758-5110 to schedule. PARENT PRAYER GROUP: Meets Wed. at 10 AM. Parents, infants and preschoolers are welcome.  HAIL HOLY QUEEN CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP: meets on the first and third Sundays of the month from 6:45-8:00 PM. Everyone is welcome. Contact George Kelly, 301-972-0326; prayer requests are welcome.   CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK Sunday, Mar. 16:              8:45 AM: Procession (Courtyard)       9 &10:30 AM: Children’s Liturgy (McCabe)            10:30 AM: Gospel Choir (McCabe)              1:30 PM: Squires (McCabe)               5:00 PM: Mass /6-7:00 PM PC: Youth Group              6:45 PM: Prayer Group (McCabe) Monday, Mar. 17: Tuesday, Mar.18:           6-7:30 PM: S: Youth Choir              7:00 PM: Mass              7:30 PM: RCIA (McCabe) Wednesday, Mar. 19:             10:00 AM: Parents Prayer (McCabe)            6-7:15 PM: Confession               6:30 PM: Legion of Mary (McCabe)               7:30 PM: TENEBRAE               7:30 PM: AA (McCabe) Thursday, Mar. 20:  HOLY THURSDAY               No 6:30 AM Mass               No Adoration               7:30 PM: Bilingual Liturgy followed by                             ADORATION in PC until Midnight Friday, Mar. 21:  GOOD FRIDAY               No 6:30 AM Mass               No Adoration             11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Confession             12:00 PM: Stations of the Cross               7:30 PM: Good Friday Liturgy Saturday, Mar. 22:  HOLY SATURDAY             11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Confession               8:00 PM: Easter Vigil  Service, Sacrament or Devotion PARISH OFFICES ARE CLOSED HOLY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, & EASTER MONDAY.

HOLY WEEK

oly Week is a sacred time as we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. The liturgical celebrations on Palm Sunday and the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday) are the heart of the Church’s liturgical year.

The entire parish family is invited to participate in these liturgies as we commemorate all that Jesus has done for us. During the Triduum, we should keep a sense of the sacred in each of our lives by increasing our prayer, freeing ourselves from our social engagements and entertainment. On Good Friday, we are asked to abstain from meat and fast by having only one full meal that day. We should maintain an atmosphere of silence during these days not only in church but in each of our lives.

The Triduum begins Holy Thursday as we celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We recall the night Jesus gave us the gift of Himself in the Eucharist at the Last Supper and instituted the priesthood. During Mass, the priest washes the feet of 12 parishioners recalling Jesus’ own washing of the Apostles’ feet and the command to love each other through humble service. The Mass concludes with the Transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the place of reposition. The Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to the repository where all are invited to pray before the Lord Jesus until Midnight. The altar is stripped of its cloths, statues and candles are removed in silence.

On Good Friday, we gather quietly for celebration of the Lord’s Passion. On this day, Mass is not celebrated, and the liturgy is divided into three parts. First, we gather for the Liturgy of the Word, the reading of the Lord’s Passion and the general intercessions as we pray for the needs of the Church and our world. Second, the Veneration of the Cross takes place as we come forward to kiss, bow, or genuflect before it. Third, we receive Holy Communion. The liturgy concludes with final prayer and all depart silently. On Holy Saturday, the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on His suffering and death. The Easter Vigil celebrates Christ’s resurrection and begins in the dark of night and is divided into four parts. First, we gather outside the church for Blessing of the Easter fire and Lighting of the Easter Candle and everyone processes into the church. The Easter (Paschal) Candle represents Christ as the Light of the World and the Exultet is sung, our Easter hymn of praise. Second, we listen to the Liturgy of the Word as we hear the story of our salvation recounted through the various readings. Third, we celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation. The water is blessed, the elect renounce sin, profess their faith, and are baptized. They receive a white garment and their baptismal candle. All those in the church renew their Baptismal Promises and are sprinkled with Holy Water. The candidates who have already been baptized and have been preparing to become Catholics are received into the Church. Then the newly baptized and newly received are confirmed. Fourth, we celebrate the Eucharist and the newly initiated receive their First Holy Communion. The great solemnity of Easter begins and we continue our celebration for 50 days concluding with the Solemnity of Pentecost.

 

TENEBRAE: A SERVICE OF DARKNESS WEDNESDAY, MAR. 19, 2008, AT 7:30 PM The Tenebrae service comes from a rich tradition in the Church dating back to the 8th century. The word, Tenebrae, is derived from the Latin, meaning “darkness.” Through word and music, this service dramatizes the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. As the service moves from light into darkness, the diminishing light symbolizes the fading devotion of the apostles as well as the gradual dying of Our Lord. At the end of the service, the sanctuary will be in darkness. The congregation is asked to leave silently, contemplating Christ’s suffering and death. COULD YOU NOT WATCH AN HOUR?

 

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NEWS FROM THE . . . SCHOOL OF RELIGION Peggy McGrail, MTS Director of Religious Eduction 301.444.3495 Joni Donlon / Mary-Beth DeLuzio: 301.444.3496 E-mail address: mspsor@aol.com. Visit our blog for announcements & news: MSP SOR Blogspot.

REMINDER: NO CLASSES WILL BE HELD FOR 2 WEEKS BEGINNING MON., MAR. 17. ALL CLASSES RESUME MON., MAR. 31, AND WED., APR. 2, 2008.

 

  HAPPY EASTER FROM THE SCHOOL OF RELIGION!

 

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“We must walk on resolutely, though the way is rough and strewn with thorns.”

                ~ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

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        HS Youth News
 Sunday 5:00 -7:00PM
    in Parish Center
  (During School-year only)

Mar. 16: Trip with Fr. Mark to see The Passion Play in Southern Md. We will be car pooling and leave MSP at 2:30 PM. Please sign up ASAP!!!

Mar. 23: Off for Easter!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Are you looking for a rewarding way to spend your time? MSP Youth Group is looking for volunteers to help make our program even better! Please contact Nicole Distasio (301) 528-8829, or MSPyouth@aol.com; www.freewebs.com/mspyouth.

 

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SOCIAL CONCERNS

 Toni Woods, 301-924-3838, ext. 203

 

Pro-Life Help-Line Numbers:
The Birthing & Care Program for prenatal care and assistance: 202-526-BABY: 301-441-1472.
The Gabriel Project for practical assistance for pregnant women and their families: 800-533-0093.
Project Rachel for post-abortion counseling and pastoral assistance: 202-269-HOPE; 301-982-2008.
Shady Grove Pregnancy Center: 301-963-6223;
Rockville Pregnancy Center: 301-770-4444.

 

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Divine Mercy Sunday, Mar. 30: Divine Mercy Celebration and Mass of Healing will be held at 12:15 PM. Eucharistic Adoration will be held after Mass. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be sung at 3:00 PM.

Remember deceased loved ones by walking the Stations of the Cross at 12:00 PM on Good Friday, Mar. 21, 2008, at All Souls Cemetery located at 11401 Brink Rd., Germantown, Md. In the event of inclement weather, please call 301-428-1995.

The Annual Collection for the Holy Land will be held Fri., Mar. 21, 2008. Join with the entire Church in preserving our common heritage of the Holy Land Shrines, the construction and renovation of housing units for the poor, and young families, the expansion of educational opportunities for youth of all ages, and assistance to people entering the workforce. May God bless you for your continued support.

Seton Sluggers Softball Seeks players for the upcoming season. Seton Sluggers is an adult co-ed, slow pitch softball team participating in the Germantown Church Softball League. The season begins in mid-April and ends in late July. Games are played on Sundays at 2 PM or 4 PM on County fields in Germantown. Any interested players (18 years of age) may call Gery Stafford, 301-963-7254, or gerystafford@comcast.net.

The Spanish Catholic Center, Catholic Community Services at 415 E. Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, Md., maintains a database of men and women looking for any kind of work such as childcare, clerical and landscaping. For more information, call Paul Savage, 301-740-2523 between 10:30 AM to 12 PM, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Life in the Spirit Seminar 2008 will take place Wednesdays for 7 weeks from Apr. 2 to May 14, 2008, from 7 to 8 PM at St. Peter’s Parish Church, Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3697 for more information.

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