March 20, 2016

Biblical Scripture Topics

What’s that in your mouth? – James 3: 1-12

Those three boys – Daniel 2: 17-23

Anyway, who & whose are you?

Stopped in your tracks – Ezekiel 34

Who is it? ● Turn on the Lights!!! ● Stop hurting me ●

● Who me, Not me ● “Sam” who? ●

Do you need to write a letter? – Book of Jude

St. Benedict the Moor Meeting Room

The Rosary Altar Society of

St. Bonaventure – St. Benedict the Moor

Is Our Lady Calling you?

Please join us every first Sunday of the

month after each Mass. All are Welcome!

“Let us bind ourselves tightly to the

Sorrowful Heart of our Heavenly Mother

and reflect on its boundless grief and how

precious is our Soul.” - Saint Padre Pio

10:00 AM ~

To a Successful Parish Campaign

In Memory of Sonia Recamara

Req. Erlinda Franks & Marie Iglesias

12 Noon ~

To a Successful Parish Campaign

Birthday Thanksgiving for ~

Noria-Kekeli & Lydia Req. Lydia Afeli

In Memory of beloved Sister & Aunt

Dr. Patricia Okafor Req. Dr. Okezue & Family

5:00 PM ~ To a Successful Parish Campaign

God’s Healing for Father Tony Boateng-Mensah

Anima Christi Soul of Christ, make Me Holy.

Body of Christ, Save Me.

Blood of Christ, Fill Me with Your Love.

Water from Christ’s Side, Wash Me.

Passion of Christ, Strengthen Me.

Good Jesus, Hear Me.

Within Your Wounds, Hide Me.

Never Let Me Be Parted From You.

From the Evil Enemy, Protect Me.

At the Hour of My Death, Call Me,

and tell Me to

Come to You, That with Your Saints

I May Praise You Through All Eternity. Amen

In prayerful pilgrimage with the Catechumens

Racine Stewart & Felicia Crowder let us accompany

our Lord on His way to the cross and to the empty

tomb. May we use this time during Holy Week to be

more closely united with Christ in His Death and

Resurrection.

Lk 19:28-40/Is 50:4-7/Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24/

Phil 2:6-11/Lk 22:14--23:56 or 23:1-49

"Pilate addressed them a third time, 'What evil has

this man done? I found him guilty of no capital

crime.'" The Palm Sunday Gospel readings present a

sad picture of grown-ups who succumb to peer

pressure. Three times, Pilate proclaimed that Jesus

was not guilty. But yet, he gave in to the mounting

pressure from the crowd, whose "voices prevailed...

and he handed Jesus over to them." Also, during the

opening Gospel at the procession of palms, we see the

adoring crowds hailing Jesus as "the king who comes

in the name of the Lord," but only too soon the chorus

changes as the voice of the crowd cries out, "Crucify

him! Crucify him!" What happened to Jesus' loyal

supporters? To those He healed? How did the mob

mentality overtake them all? Then too, we have Peter,

who in comfortable company with Jesus and his

friends promised eternal faithfulness. But when others

began asking uncomfortable questions, he caved:

"Woman, I do not know him."

These three scenarios give us a chance to reflect on

our own faithfulness as we journey into Holy Week.

Like Pilate, do we know the truth but abandon it

when it becomes unpopular? Public opinion these

days declares that Church teaching has fallen out of

favor--will we renege like Pilate or stand fast to the

faith? The fickle crowds demonstrate another kind of

weakness, where instead of thinking for themselves,

people just followed those around them. Are we

guilty of this kind of passive intellectual laziness?

How about Peter's problem: do we change our story

based on current company, or do we live as consistent

Christian witnesses in the world?

This week, may we have the courage to accompany

Jesus all the way to the cross, no matter what anyone

else may say or do.

We must stop being a part-time Christian for a full-

time God!

Morning Mass 8:30 AM – St. Benedict the Moor Church

Monday: Is 42:1-7/Ps 27:1-3, 13-14/Jn 12:1-11

Tuesday: Is 49:1-6/Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17/Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday:

Is 50:4-9a/Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34/Mt 26:14-25

Holy Thursday: No Morning Mass:

Jesus’ Last Meal was a Seder Supper at Passover

6:30 PM ● St. Benedict the Moor Church Hall

Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

St. Benedict the Moor ~ 8:00 PM Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/Ps 116:12-13, 15-18/1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15

Good Friday:

Morning Prayer – 8:30 AM

St. Benedict the Moor

Outdoor Stations of the Cross – 2:00 PM

St. Bonaventure Grotto

Passion of the Lord – 3:00 PM Is 52:13--53:12/Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25/Heb 4:14-16;

5:7-9/Jn 18:1--19:42

Holy Saturday:

Vigil Mass 8:00 PM – St. Bonaventure Gn 1:1--2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a/Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-

18/Ex 14:15--15:1/Is 54:5-14/Is 55:1-11/Bar 3:9-15, 32--4:4/

Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/Rom 6:3-11/

Lk 24:1-12

Easter Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/Col 3:1-4 or

1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Lk 24:1-12 or Lk 24:13-35

Lk 19:28-40/Is 50:4-7/Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24/Phil 2:6-11/

Lk 22:14--23:56 or 23:1-49

Reconciliation Monday ~ March 21st

A Wonderful opportunity for the faithful to

participate in this great Sacrament of Healing.

After 8:30 AM Mass – St. Benedict the Moor

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM – St. Bonaventure Rectory

Holy Thursday is more than just the lead-in

to Good Friday; it is, in fact, the oldest of the

celebrations of Holy Week. And with good reason:

Holy Thursday is the day on which Catholics

commemorate the institution of three pillars of the

Catholic Faith: the Sacrament of Holy Communion,

the Priesthood, and the Mass.

6:30 PM SHARP! Hosted by Parish Rosary Society

St. Benedict the Moor Church Hall

Mass of The Lord’s Supper at 8:00 PM We encourage all Ministers of Holy Communion

&Altar Servers to participate in the transferring

of the Eucharist.

If you would like to be one of the twelve (12) to

get your foot washed as Jesus washed the feet of

the apostles

Please see Angela

Must be available for Mass at 8:00 PM

Good Friday of the Passion of The Lord

Outdoor Stations of the Cross – 2:00 PM

St. Bonaventure Grotto

Passion of the Lord – 3:00 PM

The Scourging of Jesus

Pilate did not want to sentence Jesus to death by

crucifixion but only to a scourging. It was only at

the insistence of the Sanhedrin that he imposed

this ultimate punishment. That does not mean

that Pilate was not imposing a death sentence. It

was very common that prisoners sentenced to

scourging died under the whip. Although Pilate

was not limited to 39 lashes, he imposed this limit

in recognition of Israelite practice.

The soldiers striped off Jesus clothes and threw

on him a Scarlet military cloak,

Weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on

His head. Matthew 27:28-29

The soldiers “clothe him in purple and weaving

a crown of thorns after the trial.” Mark 15:17 & John 19:2

Thorns were placed on this earth by God

because of the fall of man (Genesis 3:18) and here

they return full circle. Apparently, for sinful

mankind, it was best to use a symbol of their own

original sin (aka thorns) to mock their Creator

and Savior.

Certain varieties of plants around Jerusalem have

woody thorns with a 2" length. Regardless of the

length, Jesus' crown of thorns caused extreme

bleeding and intense pain as it was pushed deep

into his skull. The depth of humanity's rebellion

against God was evident in this most heinous

form of human cruelty.

8:00 PM ~ St. Bonaventure Church

We invite you to The Holiness of all days!

The high point of the Easter Triduum celebrating

the passion and resurrection of Jesus.

With a rich display of symbols, rites and readings, the

Church in worship expresses her faith in the mystery

that brings her into being.

The Easter Vigil Liturgy is one of the oldest

liturgical celebrations of the Church.

This beautiful celebration consists of four parts.

Part I ~ The Service of Light ~ The vigil opens with a

service of light. The lighting & blessing of the fire at the

entrance of the Church & the Easter candle is a sign of

Christ, “The Light of the World,” and celebrates the victory

of light over darkness that humanity has ever longed for.

The Paschal Candle is carried into the darkness of the

Church as “Christ our light.”

Part II ~ Liturgy of the Word ~ A series of readings

recalls the great interventions of God in history, from

creation to the redemption of Israel from Egypt, and ends

with the story of Jesus’ resurrection.

The great “Alleluia!” proclaims with quiet joy the triumph

of God’s Son.

Part III ~ Liturgy of Baptism ~ The early Church the

Easter Vigil was the time for Baptism.

Today, we are given the opportunity to renew our own

baptismal promise.

We Welcome Felicia Crowder & Racine Stewart

to the Waters of Baptism

Part IV ~ Liturgy of the Eucharist ~ Now in the bread &

wine, Jesus comes among us in the Eucharist.

He comes into the darkness of our lives with His risen life.

The time of waiting is completed, yet we also look ahead to

the final fulfillment of the paschal banquet when we shall

see Him face to face.