Palm Sunday
From The Font
“Hosanna!”
This Hebrew word derives from the Hebrew word Hoshiya which means to save, to deliver. Interestingly, it’s Hebrew spelling (הוֹשִׁיעָה) is exactly the same as the Hebrew spelling of the word Messiah (“Mashiach” מָשִׁיחַ) but with different vowel markings. (In Hebrew, the vowels are those little dots and dashes on the bottom.) And so the word Hosanna means something like “God, please send us a savior.”
This is important because it indicates that Jesus was believed by a large part of the crowd to be the Messiah. Often, we get the idea that Jesus had a very small following before His Death and Resurrection. But this event, the entry into Jerusalem with the Palms tells a different story. Even the way that St Mark explains the events with the donkey is telling. St Mark explains the story in such a way as to indicate that Jesus had no need of the animal except that it was mentioned in the old prophecies about the Messiah and so Jesus fulfilled those old prophecies just to fulfill them.
From our point of view as Christians who fully believe that Jesus was the Messiah and that He is, in fact, more than just the savior of the Jews, the word Hosanna has a new meaning. It’s not merely a hopeful prayer for salvation in general, but a specific cry of praise and even of thanksgiving for God having sent His Son into the world to save us. When the Jews cried Hosanna, they didn’t know that Jesus would die and rise... They expected that He was riding into Jerusalem to depose Herod and Pilate and establish a new Jewish political power. They were expecting worldly salvation with a bonus that Jesus could heal the sick and read minds. (I’ll refrain from inserting a joke about modern politicians here.) The Jews got salvation, but they didn’t get the salvation they were expecting. As Christians, we think about Hosanna as a bittersweet cry of praise because it’s strongly associated with Holy Week and the death of Jesus. But as the Church Fathers quipped, “per crucem ad lucem” - through the Cross is found the Light.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
One of my favorite Church jokes is to look at someone who is a little discombobulated and say “you look as lost as a Jesuit in Holy Week!” Holy Week may seem like a lot now, but our modern form is really, really simplified. Prior to the 1950 changes, each day of Holy Week had its own special and unique character.
Palm Sunday, then as now, was full of music and decor and red vestments and, of course, palms. The highlight, though, was the chanting of the entire Passion from St. Matthew’s Gospel. It was sung by three people and set to hauntingly beautiful tones.
Monday was consciously a day of restful preparation. The idea was that the rest of the week is full speed ahead and so take some quiet to get ready.
Tuesday was a meditation on St. Mark’s Passion narrative with two entire chapters of the Gospel read or chanted at Mass.
Wednesday things took a deliberate step up with the reading of Judas’ betrayal and so, in the English-speaking world, Wednesday of Holy Week was also known as “Spy Wednesday.”
Also, depending on the place, the ancient tradition of Tenebrae might be sung in the evening. Tenebrae, properly speaking, is part of the Monastic Liturgy of the Hours, but it was adapted long ago for the whole Parish to gather and to hear the scriptures read, the chants sung and to symbolically get ready for Easter by first lighting and then slowly extinguishing candles accompanied by some liturgical sound FX.
“Maundy” Thursday got its name from the ceremonial washing of feet (“the Mandatum”). Thursday is the day in which Jesus established the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper and in doing so, established the Priesthood. As such, the Bishop calls the priests of the diocese together and they renew their vows at the Chrism Mass in which the oil of Chrism, the oil of the sick, and the oil of catechumens is also blessed.
The parish Mass for Holy Thursday typically repeats the pattern of the Washing of Feet and ends with the altars being stripped bare and the Holy Eucharist being reposed as a separate altar for meditation.
Good Friday is much the same as it always was. Mass is not celebrated and the services are somber and reflective. The Cross and the Death of Jesus are the heart of the day.
Holy Saturday marks the beginning of the Easter Season with the celebration of the Paschal Vigil in which light, water, the dance of silence with sound symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus and provide the human senses with a powerful experience of our Church and Liturgy as Drama Queen.
Some modern people would argue that these symbolic aspects are unnecessary or detrimental, but they miss what’s taking place entirely. If Jesus is fully man and fully God and we are a unity of body and soul, then any real worship in spirit and in truth of Jesus Christ requires a complete immersion of the spiritual in the physical. That’s just what Holy Week is meant to be!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue No Mass as Father will be in Alexandria for Chrism Mass
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Madeline Howington (death)/family
- Thu 5:30p In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30p Good Friday Veneration of the Holy Cross (no intention)
- Sat 8:00p In memory of Darryl Ellerbee, Sr. (death)/family
- Sun 9:30a Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/23 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 3/24 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | D Ellerbee |
| 3/28 HOLY THURSDAY 5:30p | Cooper & Kathleen Elerbee | Ann Keene |
| 3/29 GOOD FRIDAY 5:30p | MaryKatherine Marsh, Chandler Wood, and Courtland Collins | Stephanie Marsh (First Rdg & Psalm), Kendra Collins (Gospel Narrator), and Michael Lancaster (The Voice) |
| 3/30 HOLY SATURDAY 8p | Evelyn Kivett, Thomas Myers Hamilton | MaryAnn Gilfoil (Les. I & III), Beth Sullivan (Les. VI & VII), Mike Rome (Epistle and Intercessions) |
| 3/31 EASTER SUNDAY 9:30a | Thomas Myers Hamilton | C Guizerix |
Stewardship Good stewards strive to conform their lives to that of Christ–emptying themselves of all pride and putting themselves at the service of others.
ENVELOPES FOR EASTER LILIES are on the table at the entrance of church.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February Income | $ 10,106 |
| February Expenses | $ 10,328 |
| March Budget | $ 10,555 |
| March 17 Collection | $ 2,220 |
| March Income To Date | $ 7,430 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
- March 30 Easter Egg Hunt on the Church Grounds at 10 a.m. (see notes elsewhere)
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September of 2024. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
EASTER EGG HUNT...on the church grounds on Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m. Stephanie Marsh will give leadership to the event so please check with her to offer your assistance. We will need hard-boiled eggs that are dyed or plastic eggs with treats so your help is appreciated.
EASTER LILIES AND HOLY WEEK DECORATIONS ENVELOPES…there are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church which you can use to make donations “In Memory of…” or “In Honor of…” family and friends and contribute to the Easter Lilies and decorations for Holy Week. You can drop your envelope (or check with a notation that it is for flowers) in the collection basket or give it to Father Ryan or leave it at the office.
SPECIAL EASTER COLLECTION... Our second collection on Easter Sunday is one of the two every year that is “tax-free” meaning that it is not assessed by the diocese because it’s meant to help defer some of the assessment we pay to the diocese for the clergy retirement and burial expenses. Any gift made to the second collection on Easter will stay 100% here at St Edward. Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Terry Hall (March 27), Cooper Wood Ellerbee(March 27, 2008), Dana Dukes (March 28), Teddy Oliver (March 28)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn and Nap Book, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson,Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
