Maundy Thursday

HOLY THURSDAY is the most complex and profound of all religious observances, saving only the Easter Vigil. It celebrates both the institution by Christ himself of the Eucharist and of the institution of the sacerdotal priesthood (as distinct from the 'priesthood of all believers') for in this, His last supper with the disciples, a celebration of Passover, He is the self-offered Passover Victim, and every ordained priest to this day presents this same sacrifice, by Christ's authority and command, in exactly the same way. The Last Supper was also Christ's farewell to His assembled disciples, some of whom would betray, desert or deny Him before the sun rose again. On Holy Thursday there is a special Mass in Cathedral Churches, attended by as many priests of the diocese as can attend, because it is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the priesthood. At this 'Chrism Mass' the bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism used for Baptism and Confirmation. The bishop may wash the feet of twelve of the priests, to symbolize Christ's washing the feet of his Apostles, the first priests. The Holy Thursday liturgy, celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown, also shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing in Jesus' washing the feet of His disciples, and in the priest's stripping and washing of the altar. Cleansing, in fact, gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday. The action of the Church on this night also witnesses to the Church's esteem for Christ's Body present in the consecrated Host in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, carried in solemn procession to the flower-bedecked Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection. And finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people during the night, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas.

MASS SCHEDULE, INTENTIONS, SCRIPTURE READINGS AND FEAST DAYS

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Feb. 25 Feb. 26 Feb. 27 Feb. 28 5:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. No Mass Sacred Heart, Chariton Victims of Abortion Sacred Heart, Chariton Catherine OConnor John McHugh Daniel 9:4B-10 Luke 6:36-38 Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 Matthew 23:1-12 Jeremiah 18:18-20 Matthew 20:17-18 Jeremiah 17:5-10 Luke 16:19-31 Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A Matthew 21:33-34, 45-46 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Feast of Our Lord (Optional Memorial of St. Katharine Drexel)

8:30 a.m. Saint Brendan, Leon

Fri.

Mar. 1

6:30 a.m.

Sacred Heart, Chariton Rose Graffio

Sat. Sun. Holy Day of OBG

Mar. 2 Mar. 2 Sun. Mar. 3 4:30 p.m 6:30 p.m.

No Morning Mass

Sacred Heart, Chariton Harold & Rose Strosahl Saint Francis, Corydon Harold & Rosalie Siebneck Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 8:00 a.m. Saint Brendan, Leon Paul Bennett John 4:5-42 10:30 a.m. Sacred Heart, Chariton All Parishioners

Good Friday
On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the 'Reproaches', in the reading of the Passion, and in receiving the pre-consecrated Host, we unite ourselves to our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord. The Church - stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare, and with the door of the empty tabernacle standing open - is as if in mourning. In the fourth century the Apostolic Constitutions described this day as a 'day of mourning, not a day of festive joy,' and this day was called the 'Pasch (passage) of the Crucifixion.' The liturgical observance of this day of Christ's suffering, crucifixion and death evidently has been in existence from the earliest days of the Church. No Mass is celebrated on this day, but the service of Good Friday is called the Mass of the Presanctified because Communion (in the species of bread) which had already been consecrated on Holy Thursday is given to the people . Traditionally, the organ is silent from Holy Thursday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil , as are all bells or other instruments, the only music during this period being unaccompanied chant. The omission of the prayer of consecration deepens our sense of loss because Mass throughout the year reminds us of the Lord's triumph over death, the source of our joy and blessing. The desolate quality of the rites of this day reminds us of Christ's humiliation and suffering during his Passion. We can see that the parts of the Good Friday service correspond to the divisions of Mass: Liturgy of the Word - reading of the Passion. Intercessory prayers for the Church and the entire world, Christian and non-Christian. Veneration of the Cross Communion, or the 'Mass of the Pre-Sanctified.'

Lenten Project 2013: Holy Ghost Juniorate Seminary- Parish and religious education programs and schools of the Diocese of Des Moines are sponsoring a Lenten project to raise funds for a minor seminary in Nigeria which is led by the Holy Sprit Fathers. The seminary serves approximately 600 high school students under dire conditions. The Diocese of Des Moines has been blessed by the ministerial services of four Holy Spirit priests from Nigeria over the past two decades. The school is in great need of educational resources. Please help build the kingdom. Your dollars will provide classroom updates and renovations, building and roof repairs, sewage and drainage system reconstruction, generator, textbooks and school supplies. Donations may be sent to: The Diocese of Des Moines (Holy Ghost Seminary in the memo line), 601 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309. The web page for this project is www.dmdiocese.org/nigerian-seminary-fund.cfm. Click on the Nigerian Seminary Fund on the sidebar. You are invited to share in the healing and supportive journey with us to seek to find hope and reason once again in living a full life if you have had loss of a spouse from death, divorce or separation. Open house sessions will be at St. Augustins Church Hall, 42nd and Grand, Des Moines from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Friday evenings March 8, 15, and 22. For more information call Father Bob Schoemann, 515-418-1938 or Marie Williams, 515-710-4471.

SACRED HEART CHARITON

Tithes- $1190 Religious Education is Wed., Feb. 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. Bible Study Epic is Wed., Feb. 27 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. The Great Adventure is Wed., Feb. 27 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. and Thurs., Feb. 28 from 9-11:00 a.m. Session 17 questions will be discussed. Collection of food for the Ministry Center is the 3rd Sunday of the month. The Ministry Center thanks you for the items we have donated. There is ALWAYS a need for paper products- toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers as the Center can only purchase food items. Eucharistic Adoration is every Thursday during Lent at 7:00 p.m. K of C Fish Fries for Lent begin Friday, Feb. 15 and end Fri., March 22 from 5:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Please invite your friends. Stations of the Cross will follow at 7:00 p.m. St. Patricks Day Celebration is Sunday, March 17 after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. The meal will include corned beef and cabbage, Irish Stew, Soda Bread, Beer Bread and assortment of deserts.

St. Joseph Feast Day is Tuesday, March 19. There will be Mass followed by a potluck in honor of the feast.

SAINT FRANCIS CORYDON

Tithes- $335 Stations of the Cross will be at 5:45 p.m. on Saturdays during Lent.

SAINT BRENDAN LEON

Tithes- $447 Religious Education for Kindergarten- 8th grade is Wednesday, February 20. Reconciliation will be Wednesday, February 27 at 6:30 for RE students. Open Reconciliation to follow. Eucharistic Adoration is every Thursday during Lent at 7:00 p.m. K of C Fish Fries for Lent begin Friday, Feb. 15 and end Fri., March 22 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Please invite your friends. Stations of the Cross will follow at 7:00 p.m.