My dear friends,
Welcome to Holy Week, the most sacred time of our year! We enter it today with Palm Sunday, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of His Passion. This week, the Church invites us to walk with Christ—from the Upper Room on Holy Thursday, where He gives us the Eucharist and the priesthood, to the Cross on Good Friday, where He lays down His life in love for us, and finally to the empty tomb on Easter, where joy and hope are reborn in the resurrection!
I encourage you to fully enter into this holy time—through our liturgies, prayer in church, and by making a good confession this Reconciliation Monday (2–4 p.m. & 6–9 p.m., here or at any parish). Join us for our pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon as the holy oils are blessed and we priests renew our promises at the Chrism Mass (named after the Sacred Chrism oil that is used for Baptisms, Confirmations and Priestly Ordinations).
After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper Thursday evening, I encourage visits to various churches for the "altars of repose" — a meaningful tradition as we imitate Jesus praying in the Garden of Olives and staying awake with Him. I especially encourage our young adults to do this as a group. (I hope to send out an updated list of potential churches and hours of Adoration for Holy Thursday Eve by Pastor's Flocknote on or before Wednesday.)
We are adding a Sensory Friendly Stations of the Cross on Holy Thursday at 2:00pm in the church. Please spread the word.
The IHM Young Adult Group will be holding an Easter Basket Drive for underprivileged children in the Westchester community. Items needed include baskets, plastic eggs, Easter grass, small Easter toys and chocolate and candy that has no trace or contact with peanuts and tree nuts. Any donations would be greatly appreciated until Monday, April 14th, at the Christ the King altar.
To our Jewish neighbors and family members, we extend warm wishes for a joyful and peaceful Passover this week.
Please note: due to church cleaning on Tuesday and Wednesday this Holy Week, Adoration will end at 12 noon on those days. It will resume Easter Monday from 7:15am to 12noon, then be back to its regular schedule beginning Easter Tuesday, April 22nd.
Thank you to Karen Pelella of the Parish Council, our local Keogh Council of the Knights of Columbus, and all who supported our Lenten Fish Fries! To those who came out Thursday for reflection and song, I greatly appreciated your presence.
To our choir under the direction of Dr. Laurie Adamo, who have been practicing hard to prepare for this week, to our lectors, ushers, servers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion preparing our liturgies - thank you! To the HSA and class parents who accompanied our school children in grades K-8 to see King of Kings yesterday — what a beautiful and moving portrayal of Jesus’ life to prepare for this Holy Week! I recommend catching it in the theaters!
May these sacred days draw us all closer to the heart of Jesus.
I leave you with a treasure from IHM in 2021 - our Easter Video! Thank you Deanna Ricciardi for coordinating it and all who participated! Click here to view.
Priest Schedule:
Fr. Thumma will celebrate the Palm Sunday Vigil this eve, as well as the 9:00am and
10:30am Masses on Palm Sunday. I will have the 7:30am and 12noon Masses, as well as the Children's Liturgy.
Parish Calendar of Events
Monday of Holy Week, April 14
• 2:00pm to 4:00 pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm Reconciliation Monday
Tuesday of Holy Week, April 15
• Parish Trip to the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Please RSVP if interested), departure 1:30pm from IHM, 4:00pm Mass, 5:30pm bus departure from city
Sunday, April 27
• Parish Council's Coffee and Donuts after all Masses
- 9:00am to 12:00 noon - Parish Library open
- Divine Mercy Sunday with Confessions at 2pm and Holy Hour at 3pm
For more details, please check the parish bulletin or contact the rectory.