THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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April 9, 2006 The Good News ...A Sacred Time With the solemn blessing of the palm branches, the procession into church, the reading of the Passion account according to Saint Mark, we begin today the most important and sacred week of the liturgical year. Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week. Holy Week leads us into the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil culminating in that great proclamation of the saving event, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the mystery of our faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Palm Sunday Masses and the liturgical services of the Triduum are celebrated across our Archdiocese in union with all the Catholic communities throughout the world. This is a special time of grace and blessing for us, the people of God. It is a time of jubilation for the Church. It is a time of joyful renewal of our Catholic faith which rests totally and completed on the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ! Completely in tune with the tenor and spirit of Holy Week, on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m., we will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass. It is during the Chrism Mass that I bless and consecrate the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of the Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism. These Holy Oils are then used for sacramental rites in every church of our Archdiocese until Holy Week next year. People from every parish throughout the Archdiocese participate in this Chrism Mass. I invite you to be a part of this spiritual event. The permanent deacons and our priests also join with me for this solemn celebration. In fact, the priests will spend the afternoon at the cathedral in prayer and preparation for the Chrism Mass. During their evening prayer, two of the priests, Reverend Charles Schettler, our Judicial Vicar and Reverend John Michalicka, pastor of Saint Mary Church, Ponca City, will be honored with the Father Stanley Rother Faithful Shepherd award. This presentation recognizes the good and zealous and effective priestly ministry of these two good and faithful priests. We congratulate them and we thank them. Beginning today, Palm Sunday, and continuing throughout this Holy Week until Easter is the most sacred moment of the entire year. It is now that we celebrate the events of the life, the suffering, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. It is now that we should acknowledge the mercy, the graciousness and the goodness of God. Now we should joyfully accept the freedom and potential the Lord has earned for us. Now we should proclaim and live the Good News of Jesus because He is our Lord and God! Throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday, you and your loved ones will be gratefully remembered in my prayers and Masses. May you have a very blessed and happy Easter. |