Click Here to download the 2023 Holy Week Schedule
Click Here to download the 7 Last Words of Jesus Flyer
Masses for the Week
| Day | Time | Intention | Requested By |
| Saturday | 5:00 p.m. | Judith Sanders | Dorothy Haase |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. | Kathleen Dwyer | The Morrow Family |
| 11:00 a.m. | The Benefactors of the Magdalene | ||
| Monday | 8:00 a.m. | Brad & Stacey McAllister 30th Wedding Anniversary | |
| Tuesday | 8:00 a.m. | John Cleaver Kelly | Stephen and Janet Kelly |
| Wednesday | 8:00 a.m. | Jerry Kennedy | Ann Boyle |
| Thursday | 8:00 a.m. | Matthew Joseph Pianka | Phil and Barbara Zegarelli |
| Friday | 8:00 a.m. | Margo Campbell | Todd and Roberta Ruppel |
| Saturday | 5:00 p.m. | Kevin McCarthy | Frances Loffredo |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. | Arlene Gaffney | The Mitrione Family |
| 11:00 a.m. | Michael Madden 1st Anniversary Lillian and Anthony DeFeo | The Family The Family |
Last Week Collections
| Basket | $3,494 |
| WeShare | 1,720 |
| Mail-in | 1,595 |
| Catholic Relief Services | 915 |
| Attendance | Adults 348 | Children 59 |
The Pastor's Column
Dear Parishioners,
I wish to share with you the following reflection: WHY DO WE SING ? in preparation for our Holy Week Liturgies and Easter.
For nearly six decades, the Catholic Church has been encouraging the faithful to raise their voices and sing. A priest asked several people why they sing the Liturgy. Here are answers from the people in one family: The eleven-year old boy answered that he sings because his mother sings; because that is what he is supposed to do when he is in church; and because he likes to sing—music speaks to him! His fourteen-year-old sister answered: “The content of the music tells the story of Jesus being alive; the story of Jesus comes through the words of the music better than just the words, and I remember them afterwards; and my Mom sometimes tears up when she is singing.” And the Mom answered; “It is the ‘right’ thing to do; because when I was a young girl, first I learned to do it before I knew it mattered or whether it mattered; and when I sing today seldom is there a time when I don’t get some healing from the music—the text raises my level of awareness.”Some people sing the Liturgy because they pray better. Throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday music will play a pivotal role in our Liturgies. Think of Jesus chanting the Jewish Liturgy with his disciples and the “hymns” he sang with them before going to the Garden of Gethsemane.
The American Bishops' important and useful document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, opens with a wonderful chapter on “Why We Sing”. To quote just one section: “Music is therefore a sign of God’s love for us and of our love for him. In this sense, it is very personal. But unless music sounds, it is not music, and whenever it sounds, it is accessible to others. By its very nature, song has both an individual and communal dimension. Thus, it is no wonder that singing together in church expresses so well the sacramental presence of God to his people.’ (STL, 2).
We are Easter people and Alleluia is our song! Join in with us and sing our special liturgies beginning next weekend, Palm Sunday, and throughout the Easter Season.
Fr. Tim
THANK YOU
I wish to thank all those who sent their delicious Irish Soda Breads and zeppoles to the rectory in honor of St. Patrick & St. Joseph! It is my hope that next year, we will have, at our March Brunch Sunday, an Irish Soda Bread Contest with Irish Coffees, and a Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner with a St. Joseph dessert table. Slainte & Grazie!
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading I: Ezekiel 37: 12-14 The prophet’s mission is to the exiles and it involves bringing new life to a dead Israel. God will take the initiative and He promises resurrection and new life to the people.
Reading II: Romans 8: 8-11 Christian life is one that is lived in the spirit of Jesus. Therefore, the justified Christian is empowered to have his life restored after death, and this for his mortal body as well.
The Gospel: John 11: 1-45, or 11: 3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 Jesus’ great miracle of restoring life to His friend Lazarus brings many Jews to believe in Him. Martha’s faith throughout the event is outstanding. She is not at all divided, as were many of her fellow observers, over Jesus’ identity.
SECOND COLLECTION : EASTER FLOWERS
All of us like the Easter floral decorations. They are colorful signs of Spring and the Glorious Life of Resurrection. We also like to splurge on palm branches and flowers for Palm Sunday and Easter. We can do that this year if you and others are generous in what you give in the Flower Envelopes, either in honor or memory of your loved ones. A listing will be published in the Easter Bulletin.
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA
Established by John Paul II, “Mercy Sunday” recognized the abundant mercy of God offered to us through Christ and is based on the personal revelation of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.
Please join us in prayer:
Sunday, April 9 (Easter) after the 9:00 a.m. Mass
Monday through Friday, April 10 - April 14 after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
Saturday evening, April 15 at 4:45 p.m.
Sunday, April 16 (Divine Mercy Sunday) - Holy Hour from 3 to 4 p.m. Divine Mercy chaplet, prayers, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
As most of you are aware, we have an image of the Divine Mercy located in our vestibule.
ATTENTION PARISHIONERS:
PARKING FOR OUR HIGH HOLY DAYS
We anticipate large crowds during our upcoming Easter Holyday celebrations. Please be mindful of our neighbors’ driveways. We are extremely grateful to the PHFH and the Union Church for allowing us to park on their properties.
IT’S TAX TIME!
The following conversation took place between a Tax Assessor and a poor Christian:
“What property do you possess?” asked the assessor.
“I am a very wealthy man,” replied the Christian.
“List your possession please,” instructed the assessor.
The Christian said:
“First, I have an everlasting life (John 3:16).
Second, I have a mansion in heaven (John 14:2).
Third, I have peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Fourth, I have joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8).
Fifth, I have divine love which never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Sixth, I have a faithful wife (Proverbs 31: 10).
Seventh, I have healthy, happy, obedient children (Exodus 20:12).
Eighth, I have true, loyal friends (Proverbs 18:24).
Ninth, I have songs in the night (Psalms 42:8).
Tenth, I have a crown of life (James 1: 12).
The tax assessor closed his book, and said, “Truly you are a very rich man, but your possessions are not subject to taxation.”
TENEBRAE
The Magdalene invites you to join us for our annual Tenebrae Services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday mornings beginning at 9:00 a.m. Tenebrae is Latin for “shadows.” It is the public prayer of the Church, which consists of the day’s Office of Readings and Morning Prayer. Besides the solemn prayer of the Divine Office, there is the singing of the Lamentations of Jeremiah and the extinguishing of the Fifteen candles placed in a candelabrum in the sanctuary.
LENTEN REGULATIONS
During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the Faithful to reflect on a spirit of penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.
FASTING: requires that only one full meal be taken per day. Two other smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal one full meal in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until the age of 59.
ABSTINENCE: prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to obligate throughout their entire life.
ASH WEDNESDAY & GOOD FRIDAY are days of fast and abstinence.
FRIDAYS IN LENT are days of abstinence.
“The fast of the rich are the feasts of the poor.”
Have you committed? Envelopes are available in the back of the church to receive your support.
The Appeal exists to fund the vast education, charitable, and pastoral outreach of our archdiocese all of which serve to make Chirst known to the world. Please put our Parish number 511 on your gift. You can also make your gifts online at www.cardinalsappeal.org. Our parish goal is $64,100.
PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED: Deacon Charles T. Borsavage, Rev. Patrick Curley
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: Rosemary Philips, Pierre Poux, Edgar Campell and our parishioners at home or in a healthcare facility.
PRAYERS FOR T HOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR MILITARY & THEIR FAMILIES
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF TURKEY, and SYRIA
MUSIC NOTES & NEW COMMUNION LINES
The spring choir season has commenced with both returning voices and new voices! They have chosen to sing at the 11:00 a.m. Mass and also will play a major role in our Holy Week Services. As you know, we have a beautiful church without a choir loft. The choir will sing from the pews near the organ. During Communion, the choir will come forward and stand in front of the candles and pulpit to offer a communion piece while communion is being distributed.
St. Ambrose said: A religious hymn is a great blessing for everyone. It constitutes praise to the Most High, honor of His holy people, worldwide harmony, and eloquent proof of the Church’s unity. It brings about a complete spiritual uplifting and absolute peace and joy in redeemed hearts, with the triumphal hymn and song of happiness. It drives away the hardness of the heart. It chases away disturbance. It dissolves and dissipates despondency… The voice sings the soul’s joy, and the spirit delves into the mysteries of the faith.
Therefore, to keep traffic flowing with minimal interruption, the Communion lines (for all masses) will start from the back to the front, giving the choir ample time to be in place. Choir members will remain in place and when finished, will receive Holy Communion and return to their pews. Please show a warm welcome to these wonderful “music ministers” in our parish community.
The Sanctuary Candle is in loving memory of Ann Kaufmann requested by Todd and Roberta Ruppel.
PLEASE JOIN US NEXT SUNDAY AFTER THE 11:30 AM MASS TO HONOR
Jean Sudol (former Hospitality chair) & Dottie Meehan (former Director of Rel. Ed.)
MOST WANTED: LENTEN WILL CONTROL
Thomas Merton reminds us that no one can live a decent life even on the most basic level if he is unable on occasion to refuse the impulses of his appetites:
“No man who simply eats and drinks whenever he feels like eating and drinking, who smokes whenever he feels the urge to light a cigarette, who gratifies his curiosity and sensuality whenever they are stimulated, can consider himself a free person. He has renounced his spiritual freedom and become the servant of bodily impulses.
Therefore his mind and his will are not fully his own. They are under the power of his appetites.”
PARISH CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, March 26
12:00- 1:30 p.m. Walking With Purpose
Tuesday, March 28
1 - 2:30 p.m. Walking With Purpose
4-7 p.m. Religious Education Classes
7- 9 p.m. Choir Practice
Wednesday, March 29
4 - 6 p.m. Men’s AA
Thursday, March 30
4 -6 p.m.Religious Education Classes
7 - 8:30. p.m Walking With Purpose
Friday, March 31
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross
Saturday, April 1
7:45 - 8:45 a.m. & 9:00 - 10 a.m. Men’s AA
LENTEN HIGHLIGHTS AT THE MAGDALENE
~STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Fridays at 7 pm.
~PARISH ALMSGIVING PROGRAM: to benefit the Life Center. Mite boxes were distributed to all Children in our Religious Education PRogram. Also, the poor box will remain in the center aisle until Easter Sunday to receive your monetary donations.
~MORNING PRAYER: will be held on Saturday, March 25. The theme is The Seven Last Words .
~LENTEN SOUP SUPPER: Have you RSVP? Don’t cook. Come enjoy a simple meal with your fellow parishioners THIS Friday, March 31. A choice of homemade vegetable soup, New England Clam Chowder, crackers, rolls, water, coffee, and tea are on the menu. RSVP forms can be found in the back of the church or on our website. Donations are always welcome.