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PARISH OF ST. PETER’S /SACRED HEART
38 Central Avenue, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Rectory: 570-724-3371
Rev. Joseph J. Manarchuck, Pastor

Holy Thursday March 24 7:30PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper – St. Peter’s

Good Friday March 25 12:10PM Celebration of the Lord’s Passion – St. Peter’s

ON Palm Sunday we experience the greatness and the poverty of the human spirit. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds acclaimed him as the Son of David. But as he stood trial before Pilate, the same crowds called for his crucifixion.

On Palm Sunday, near the end of Lent, we have come in touch with the greatness and poverty of our own lives. Throughout this season we have reflected on our sin, but we have also experienced God’s grace in communion, community, and scripture.

On Palm Sunday, we also hear about the greatness and poverty of Jesus. Jesus was in the form of God, but he took on human form. He had all greatness as God, but he did not cling to it. “Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,” Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians says. Jesus humbled himself to become like us and to experience what we experience—even death. “Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.”

Sometimes in a single day we experience unfettered joy and inconsolable grief. A child is born, but someone dies. We receive mercy from a stranger, but we fail to love our neighbor. The extremes of human life are vast. But Christ came to us embracing both extremes and all that is in the middle. All, all of human life he redeems and makes his own. (Written by Paul Turner. Copyright @2004, Archdiocese of Chicago, Liturgy Training Publications; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS! There are no classes today or Easter Sunday. All classes will resume Sunday, April 3 at the regularly scheduled times. Pre-School Class - during the 8:30AM Mass; Grades K through 8 - 9:30AM; and High School Classes (9-12) are held at 7:00PM Sunday evening. All students are urged to attend the Holy Week Masses with their families. .

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION! The last opportunity for the Sacrament before Easter at St. Peter’s will be on Wed., March 23^rd at 7:00PM; and at Sacred Heart Church in Morris on Fri., March 25^th immediately following the Stations of the Cross. (Please note: There are no scheduled confessions on Holy Saturday.)

EASTER FLOWER MEMORIAL – Please place your envelope in the collection today. The memorial will be printed and made available Easter weekend.

THE GREAT THREE DAYS -- EASTER TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday , March 24 – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Procession, 7:30PM. We commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and priesthood and the ministry of service at this liturgy and conclude with a solemn procession with the Holy Eucharist. We also encourage families to bring their Operation Rice Bowl and Local Food Pantry contributions to the liturgy that evening and place them in the proper receptacles at the Church entrance.

Eucharistic Adoration & Night Prayer: The Blessed Sacrament will be reserved in the Eucharistic Chapel (room off the carport entrance of the Church) until midnight for silent devotion. We will conclude Adoration with Night Prayer at Midnight.

Good Friday, March 25 – Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 12:10PM. (A day of fast & abstinence) We will observe this day with the gospel of Christ’s Passion, veneration of the cross and Holy Communion. Paschal Fast: On Good Friday, and if possible, Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil, the paschal fast is observed everywhere in honor of the suffering and death of the Lord, Jesus, to prepare ourselves to share more deeply in his resurrection. (Paulist Press Ordo) Stations of the Cross will be prayed at Sacred Heart in Morris at 7:00PM, followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Blessing of Easter Baskets - Saturday, March 26, at 12:00PM (Noon) in the Parish Center.

Easter Vigil, March 26 - The High Point of the Easter Triduum, 8:00PM. Here the Liturgies of Light, Word, Baptism, and Eucharist celebrate the risen Lord in our lives.

Easter Sunday, March 27 – 7:30AM, Sacred Heart; 9:00AM & 11:00AM, St. Peter’s.

LIFELINE – “Thirty-two years later, the evil of Roe v. Wade persists, the blood of innocents continues to stain our Constitution, and the loss of more than 40 million unborn children should haunt our national consciousness…The evil must end! It must end soon! And we are here to affirm that, with God’s grace, we must be instruments of its ending! (Cardinal William H. Keeler, Homily, Pro-Life Vigil Mass, January 23, 2005) PREGNANCY HOTLINE – 1-800-848-LOVE (5683)

The Year of the Eucharist

We “were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless, unblemished lamb” (1Pt 1:18-19). Each Holy Thursday, we remember that Jesus gave us the gift of Himself in the Holy Eucharist and instituted the priesthood so that He could always remain with us in the Blessed Sacrament. Every Mass is a memorial of the new Passover. On Good Friday, Jesus offered His Body and Blood for us on the Cross to save us, and reopen the gates of heaven to us.

Vocations,…

“The Eucharist is at the center of all prayer initiatives. The Sacrament of the Altar holds decisive value for the birth of vocations and their perseverance, because from Christ’s redemptive sacrifice those called are able to draw strength to dedicate themselves entirely to the proclamation of the Gospel. It is good that adoration of the Blessed Sacrament goes hand-in-hand with the Eucharistic celebration, thus prolonging, in a certain sense, the mystery of the Holy Mass.” (Pope John Paul II, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2004.

During this Year of the Eucharist, the Holy Father continues to encourage both praying the Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass. Please remember our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in your prayers; and a special intention for young men to respond to the call to priesthood.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: Local Food Pantry & Operation Rice Bowl - Please bring your donations to the Mass on Holy Thursday and place in the box provided at the main entrance of the Church. Good Friday - The annual collection for the shrines in the Holy Land. These monies are forwarded to the Diocese after Easter. Easter Offering - Each year this offering helps gives the budget an extra boost. Thank you for doing what you can! Your generosity is always more than appreciated.

IMPORTANT REHEARSALS FOR HOLY WEEK

Holy Thursday (Altar Servers & those having feet washed) – Wed., March 23, 5:45PM, Church.

Good Friday (Altar Servers & Cross Bearers) – Wed., March 23, 6:30PM, Church

Lector Rehearsals – Wed., March 23, Church. Good Friday at 7:00PM; and Easter Vigil at 7:15PM.

Altar Server Rehearsal for Easter Vigil – Sat., March 26, 10:30AM, Church.

OTHER DATES TO REMEMBER THIS WEEK!

Women’s Bible Study – Tues., March 22, 9:00AM; Parish Center. All are welcome!

RENEW Group – Tues., March 22, 1:00PM, Adult Education Room, Parish Center.

AA – AL ANON – AL-A-TEEN – Every Tuesday, 8:00PM, Parish Center

Weekly Eucharistic Adoration – This Wednesday from 8:00AM – 5:00PM. (Please note change in time to allow preparation of the Chapel for use on Holy Thursday.)

PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will close Holy Thursday, March 24^th at 12:00 (Noon) for the Easter Holyday’s and re-open Monday, March 28th. Please have bulletin announcements into the Office no later than Monday, March 21^st at 3:00PM.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY - APRIL 3

AND THE EXTRAORDINARY GRACE PROMISED BY JESUS

The Second Sunday of Easter is observed throughout the Church as Divine Mercy Sunday” - a time of special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of thanksgiving for all the favors and blessings given in His name. Jesus promised, “The soul that will go to Confession [beforehand] and receive Holy Communion [on that day] will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened.”

In preparation for the celebration of ‘Divine Mercy Sunday’, consider praying the DIVINE MERCY NOVENA privately from Good Friday, March 25 through Saturday, April 2. Copies of the novena prayers are provided at the main entrance of the Church. The Chaplet is also prayed daily on EWTN (Ch. 58) at 7:00AM and 3:00PM.

Holy Child Church in Mansfield will host THE EASTER FEAST on Tues., April 12 at 6:30PM. This concludes our deanery-wide journey through Lent into Easter. Attendance is by reservation only and a $5.00 donation is requested. Please call Holy Child Rectory (662-3568) to make your reservations no later than Wed., April 6^th.

PASTORAL COUNCIL SELECTION! The covenant of the Pastoral Council gives you the opportunity to prayerfully consider and submit names of registered parishioners who are 18 years or older as potential council members. Three positions need to be filled. (Present council members are B. J. Butler, Eileen Evert, Terri Koch, John Grab, Natalie Kennedy, John Wheeler; Colleen Hanson, Kevin Hritz, and Recording Secretary, Valerie Anthony. B.J., Eileen and Terri will finish their three year term.) .) Please use the form provided below, detach and drop in the collection. We appreciate your consideration and input in this process.

ST. PETER’S SPRING CLOTHING, BOOK & HOUSEHOLD SALE!

Tues., April 12 & Wed., April 13, 8:00AM – 6:00PM, Parish Center.

Wednesday’s Special – Take What You Want and Leave a Donation!

Donations will be accepted two (2) days only! Sunday, April 10, Noon - 3:00PM; and Monday, April 11, 8AM – 6PM. If you are able to share your time, please come to the Parish Center any day during the sale or call Mary Cleveland 724-3371.