INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS
Fr. Gyan will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation, one half hour before Mass (6:30 pm at St. Malachy & 8:30 am at OLV) during each of the weekends of Lent.

OUR FORTY-DAY LENTEN JOURNEY REACHES IT’S GOAL
This coming week, on Holy Thursday evening, Lent comes to an end, or better it reaches its intended goal: the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus in the annual Three Great Days.

Yes, these special services are being held at Our Lady of Victory, but they are meant to include St. Malachy. It would be so good if we decided to participate in all three of them. Really, Holy Thursday-Good Friday-Easter Vigil belong together. If you look at them a little closer they are one Service in three stages.

CHRISM MASS THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 08, 7:30 P.M
The Archbishop invites us to participate in the Chrism Mass over which he presides at the Cathedral. That is the Mass during which he will consecrate and bless the oils used for Baptism and Confirmation and for the Anointing of the Sick. At the end of the Mass the Bishop will distribute the oils to representatives from the parishes and institutions where they will be used in the course of the year.

WASHING FEET ON HOLY THURSDAY
This is very much part of the Holy Thursday service. In this, at first light, embarrassing gesture the basic thrust of what we celebrate in the Three Great Days is summed up: God's love for us, God's becoming the servant of us all.

If we feel uneasy about this strange gesture, we are in good company. The apostle Peter did not want to hear of it either when Jesus approached him. In Peter's estimation that was not god-like enough. It is a good thing that Peter consented after some objections.

In Jesus, God chooses to be servant of us all. Hence, all should feel free to be part of this strange, but powerful gesture. So we can have a good number of our parishioners who are willing to have their feet washed. It is so much part of this Holy Evening.

FASTING ON GOOD FRIDAY AND, IF POSSIBLE, ON HOLY SATURDAY
The church encourages us to observe a fast on Good Friday and, where possible, on Holy Saturday as well.

It is a fasting in anticipation of the Feast of Easter and, as such, it is different from a fast we may be observing during Lent. Eating less is one form of fasting. But a very appropriate form of fasting is to abstain from going out, from having a drink, from watching a movie, from shopping or other distractions that often fill our lives.

The challenge is to keep these days special, to keep them indeed holy, to keep ourselves focused on the Lord Jesus and on what we are given in Him. Let us give it a try. Our faith can only benefit from it.

EASTER VIGIL - PARTICIPATION MORE THAN DESIRABLE
If there is one service that gives a good display of the Christian faith, it is the Easter Vigil. But it is strange and unfortunate that many Catholics have never participated in it. "It is too long", some say. Really? A good movie or a hockey game takes about the same amount of time, and there is less at stake in it.

At the Easter Vigil we gather around the primary symbols of our faith: our assembling, the cross, the Easter candle, the Scriptures, the baptismal water and the bread and wine of the Eucharist. All this to celebrate the new light and life with which God graces us in the Crucified and Risen Lord. Not to be missed! 9 p.m.

AT THE EASTER VIGIL AND AT THE EASTER MASSES - OUR BAPTISM RENEWED
Our sharing in Christ's victory over death and darkness and sin began at our baptism. But it takes a lifetime for baptism "to take". Easter is the best time to have it renewed so that the new life that Jesus won for us in his death and resurrection may progressively grow on us.

BAPTISM
Any parents who wish to join us in preparing for the sacrament of Baptism, please register with the parish secretary at (819)986-3763.

OLV WARDENS MEETING
The next wardens meeting will be held on Thursday , April 16th, at 7:00 p.m.

LOVE SACRIFICE THE FOUNTAIN OF ETERNAL LIFE
This Holy Thursday we can ask ourselves, as we come to the end of this period of prayer, if those people around us where we spend the greater part of our lives know that we are disciples of Christ by the amiable, understanding and. welcoming approach we have in dealing with them; if we try never to lack charity in thought, word or deed; if we know to make things up with them when we have treated others badly, if we show those around us many signs of affection such as warmth, appreciation, words of encouragement, fraternal correction when necessary, the habitual smile and good humor, details of service, and a little help of the sort that goes unnoticed. This love is not something reserved for important matters, but must be exercised above all in the ordinary circumstances of daily life.

With the Passion of Our Lord so close; let us recall both Mary’s dedication to the accomplishment of God’s Will and her service to others. So great is Mary’s love for all mankind that she, too, fulfilled Christ’s words when he affirmed: Greater love has no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends.