Newsletter | April 4, 2023 |
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THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM &
THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
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JOIN US FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER |
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Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (No weekday morning Adoration & Mass)
Thursday, April 6th at 7:00pm
Good Friday - Stations of the Cross & Chaplet of the Divine Mercy (No Soup Supper)
Friday, April 7th at 3:00pm
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You are also invited to pray the Stations of the Cross on your own, either in the church during open hours or using our outdoor stations on the front lawn during daylight hours. Stations of the Cross Worship Aids are available here.
Good Friday - Celebration of the Lord's Passion (No weekday morning Adoration & Mass)
Friday, April 7th at 7:00pm
- Every person 14 years or older must abstain from meat on Good Friday.
- Every person between the age of 18 and 59 must fast on Good Friday. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
Holy Saturday - Easter Basket Blessing
Saturday, April 8th at 12:00pm
Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (No 3:30pm Reconciliation and No 5:00pm Mass)
Saturday, April 8th at 8:00pm
Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord, followed by Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 9th at 9:00am & 11:00am
PRACTICE OF HOPE
Alleluia! He is risen! Sunday, we rejoice in the resurrection We celebrate both our and the apostles' belief that God makes all things new. Reflect on your life since last Easter. What is new in your life? What has been renewed? Where do you see God breaking into your life? If you have encountered difficulties and sadness during this time, as Christ for continued healing.
Please continue to self-screen. Stay home if you are not feeling well and celebrate Mass with us via livestream. We are doing our best to continue to provide a safe space to worship for everyone. Click here to see current COVID safety measures.
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CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES RICE BOWL |
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Ways you can turn in your CRS Rice Bowl gifts:
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Give online at crsricebowl.org/give
- Donate by phone by calling 1-877-435-7277
- Mail your gift to: Catholic Relief Services CRS Rice Bowl P.O. Box 5200 Harlan, IA 51593-0700
- Drop it into the offertory basket or bring it to the parish office
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May your spirit rejoice, and your heart be glad on this glorious Easter! Christ's blessings of peace and hope be yours!
There will be no newsletter next week. The next newsletter will be sent on April 18.
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CELEBRATING OUR NEWEST CATHOLIC CHURCH MEMBERS |
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We are welcoming eight new members to our parish next Saturday at our Easter Vigil Celebration. Our liturgy starts at 8:00pm with our Easter Fire.
We will be welcoming through Baptism:
- Molly Burdeen
- Florencia Garcia
- Nguyen Thao Ho
- Dennis Robert Cone
- Brent William Reiner
- Alexander Ford Whicker
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Eric T. Maggard - Eric’s two little ones will be baptized as well through the infant baptism rite at the Easter Vigil.
We also are welcoming:
into the Catholic Church as he joins us from the Lutheran tradition and receives the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
Please consider joining us for the Easter Vigil to congratulate our neophytes and/or making cards for any one of or all of them welcoming them into our Parish Family. Cards can be dropped off in the parish office this week between 8:00am-4:30pm.
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CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB IS IN NORTHWEST CATHOLIC |
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Our very own CKCC is in Northwest Catholic for their micro loan businesses to support CRS Rice Bowl! Read the article here.
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A big THANK YOU to all of those who turned out for the annual spring yard party last Saturday morning. The place looks beautiful. Young and old, there many hard workers. A special thanks goes to Ted Brown and his crew who delivered and spread many yards of nice mulch and to Bill Lamb who provided the 30 yard dumpster that was filled to the brim with yard waste when it was picked up. We are looking good for Easter. THANK YOU everyone from Tony Z and SJV. |
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KNIGHTS OF THE MONTH
March/April
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Congratulations to the Knight of the Month, Derek Hookano, and Family of the Month, Jim and Ellen Dowling, who serve as an inspiration to our parish community and council.
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DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
April 16
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In her diary, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska recorded 14 revelations from our Lord requesting this feast.
"I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially the poor sinners...The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment."
To receive the extraordinary graces of this feast, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the vigil celebration) by making a good Confession beforehand and staying in the state of grace, and receive with great trust in Divine Mercy. We are also encouraged to venerate the Divine Mercy image and perform acts of mercy through deed, word, or prayer.
In celebration, please join us on Sunday, April 16 at 10:00am as we process around the church and sing the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. There will also be a reception at Noon in the Social Hall.
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FACILITATORS & SACRISTANS NEEDED |
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Are you looking to help our church community in a way that supports the Mass? Consider serving as a facilitator or a sacristan. These are very important ways to assist Fr. Vu. To find out more, please contact Kathy, katmeus@gmail.com.
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The funeral for Kathryn Desmond will be on Saturday, April 22 at 11:00am. Dear God, in this life you embraced her with Your tender love; bid her eternal rest.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP
Applications Due Sunday, May 21 at Midnight
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The Knights of Columbus offers scholarships to eligible and qualified high school seniors to attain their educational goals. Learn more
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VBS REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE NOW
June 26-29
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Stellar: Shine Jesus' Light on Finn Hill will be June 26-29. For more information and to register click here.
If you are interested in helping or planning for VBS and being a part of our “Team to get it Blasted off” email Laura, Lstanger@sjvkirkland.org. |
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The Grief Support Group meeting set for this evening, Tuesday, April 4 has been cancelled. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 2. |
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WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP
Tonight, Tuesday, April 1 at 7:00pm in the Parish Office
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The first Tuesday of each month our Women’s Book Group gathers with wine and chocolate to discuss a book that has been chosen by the group. You do not need to read the book to come to the book group. The April book is Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom by Albert Nolan. The May book is The Maid by Nita Prose.
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The theme for this year’s auction is – “In the Vineyard” – we are looking for a good tag line to go with it such as: “He is the Vine, We are the Branches” or……If you have an idea for a tag line, or are interested in joining in the planning, or would like to sign up to help on the night of the auction (November 4), please email Ann V. avandewark@sjvkirkland.org or attend our next planning meeting this Wednesday, April 5 at 6:00pm in the Social Hall.
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LUNCH MAKING FOR THE HOMELESS
This Thursday, April 6 at 10:00am in the Social Hall
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We meet every first Thursday of the month to make sack lunches that will be taken to a homeless shelter. All ages are welcome! This is a fun, easy, and fulfilling service opportunity for families.
Can you bake homemade cookies? We would love to have 100 homemade cookies for each of our lunch making days to put 2 cookies in each of the 50 lunches we make. Let Laura know if you want to make some, Lstanger@sjvkirkland.org. Thanks!
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SCHEDULE CHANGES
for Holy Week and the Octave of Easter
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There will be no 9:00am weekday Adoration & Mass during the Triduum, April 6 and 7. Please join us for the Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies, both at 7:00pm.
There will be no 3:30pm Reconciliation and 5:00pm Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, April 8. Celebrate Easter Vigil with us on Holy Saturday, April 8 at 8:00pm.
The church will be closed on Easter Monday, April 10. There will be no Word & Communion Service this day.
There will no 9:00am weekday Adoration & Mass during the Octave of Easter, April 12-14. Please join us for Word & Communion Services that week, April 11-14 at 9:00am.
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HOLY LAND GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING
This Friday, April 7
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This Pontifical collection is for the support of the Holy Places, but above all for those pastoral, charitable, educational, and social works which the Church supports in the Holy Land for the welfare of their Christian brethren and of the local communities. Learn more.
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HOLY SATURDAY EASTER BASKET BLESSING
This Saturday, April 8 at 12:00pm
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In many Eastern European countries, it is a tradition to have a basket of food blessed on Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday. In Poland, for example, the blessing of the baskets is known as święcenie pokarmow wiełkanocnych, a practice dating to the 15th century or earlier, and one which is still maintained by most families in Poland (and to some extent in other countries).
The food items in the Easter basket, as well as at the Easter Sunday breakfast when the blessed food is eaten, have special significance. Each family may have its own traditions, but there are some practices that are universal.
Basket Decorations
A lot of thought, time, and care are put not only into the foods that will go into the basket but also to how the basket is assembled. The basket is lined with an embroidered cloth or traditional folk fabric. Once the basket is filled, it is covered with a white linen cloth (some have a colorfully crocheted edging or embroidered design) representing the shroud of Christ. The basket can then be decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan) or Polish "palms " made from dried flowers and colorful paper.
In rural Poland, the size and contents of a woman's basket (some used wooden bowls and even dresser drawers) was a matter of pride and standing in the community.
Symbolic Foods
A typical Eastern European Easter basket would include a variety of symbolic foods, although families can personalize to their liking. There is a special blessing for meat, egg, cake, and bread, so baskets will most likely include these ingredients.
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Bacon (boczek/słonina, BOH-chek/swoh-NEE-nah) is a symbol of the abundance of God's mercy.
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Bread (chleb, hlehb) is usually a braided chałka, representing the staff of life given by God.
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Easter bread (babka, BAHB-kah) is a round cake of rich, eggy yeast dough with raisins that is reminiscent of the risen Lord.
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Butter (masło, MAHS-woh) is one of the dairy products included to celebrate the end of Lent and the richness of our salvation. The butter is often shaped into a lamb, which is symbolic of the Paschal Lamb, and is known as a baranek. Sometimes the baranek is made of dough, wood, or even plastic. It can also be made of sugar, when it is known as baranek cukrowy wielkanocny.
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Candles (swieca, SHVIEH-tsa) symbolize Jesus, the "light of the world," and can be lit when the priest blesses the baskets of food.
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Cheese (ser, SEHRR) is a symbol to remind Christians of moderation.
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Colored eggs (pisanki, pee-SAHN-kee), as well as uncolored hard-cooked eggs, indicate hope, new life, and Christ rising from his tomb.
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Ham (szynka, SHIN-kah), as well as other meats, symbolizes great joy and abundance in celebration of Christ's resurrection.
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Sausage links (kiełbasa, kyehw-BAH-sah) are symbolic of the chains of death that were broken when Jesus rose from the dead, as well as of God's generosity.
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Horseradish (chrzan, HZAHN) is a reminder of the bitterness and harshness of the Passion of Jesus, and the vinegar it is mixed with symbolizes the sour wine given to Jesus on the cross.
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Salt (sól, SOOL) is present to add zest to life and preserve us from corruption.
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Sweets (słodycze, swoh-DIH-cheh) suggest the promise of eternal life or good things to come.
Family Traditions
Although every family might have its own traditions when it comes to the Easter baskets, many make sure to include enough food so every family member can have a bite of all the blessed foods after Mass on Easter Sunday.
The basket may hold a little bird's nest cake made with leftover batter from the lamb cake and hard-cooked eggs studded with cloves representing the nails of the cross, as well as kiełbasa, ham, salt, and pepper. Also common are ćwikła or chrzan, a butter lamb, or butter stuffed into a shot glass studded with a clove, and a small, round bakery rye bread topped with a paper decal in the shape of a purple cross. While in some families, greens, vegetables, and fruit are never included, other families make them a part of the basket.
In many families when the children are old enough, they are given the honor of taking the basket to church to be blessed. There is no risk of the basket being picked over since it is a time of fasting, and the children are sure to be admonished that they do not touch one morsel of food. With the aromas so intoxicating, it takes tremendous willpower not to sample.
Traditions include both feasting on the blessed foods on Easter morning as well as using the contents of the święconka basket to make a delicious soup known as white barszcz.
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EGG HUNTS
Easter Sunday after the 9:00am and 11:00am Masses
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As in the resurrection story in which Mary Magdelene finds the empty tomb, children are invited to search for eggs, symbols of new life. Bring your baskets on Easter Sunday. Eggs will be outside if it's dry, or inside downstairs if it's raining. Find the golden egg and you win a prize! |
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SENIOR DINNER (55+)
Saturday, April 15 after the 5:00pm Mass
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Calling all seniors, couples included! If you are 55 or older, we would like to invite you to our monthly dinners held the third Saturday of every month. Our goal in joining together as a group is to become better integrated in our faith community and grow in our faith - to develop deeper relationships with each other as well as with our Lord and Savior. And it's a great night out of fun and fellowship! After dinner we will play the Left, Right, Center dice game, so remember to bring four quarters. Last month's winner was Carmen Collins!
In April we'll be having a ham dinner. Price is $10/person (cash only please). Stop in or call the parish office to sign up by Tuesday, April 11 so we know how much food to prepare. Friends are welcome!
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We will be returning to the trails! Open to all interested parishioners looking to take advantage of our beautiful local trails and fellowship with other SJV hiking enthusiasts. We will meet at the upper parking lot near the restrooms and playground. A Discover Pass or $10 is required to park. Please email Susan, sweaver@sjvkirkland.org, if you would like to carpool from SJV or plan to join us so we know who to wait for.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Thursday, April 20 at 7:00pm
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Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to males 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics. Meetings are every third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. For more information contact the Grand Knight, Brad Lund, bradelund@comcast.net.
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PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Sunday, April 23 after the 9:00am and 11:00am Masses
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This breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus will support our High School Mission Trekkers on their journey to Tijuana this June. Enjoy a great breakfast for a great cause! |
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FAITH SHARING
Wednesdays at 10:00am in Room 8. Reflect on the readings for the following Sunday and how they apply to our lives. Learn more
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FIRST EUCHARIST PREPARATION
Session #1 is Friday, April 21 at 7:00pm or Saturday, April 22 at 10:00am. Learn more
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CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB
No CKCC on Easter Sunday/Monday. We'll resume April 16/17. We offer sessions for 3-year-olds through grade 5. Learn more
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YOUTH GROUP
No Youth Group on Easter Sunday. Join us for Cramming & Games: Mini Golf Edition on Sunday, April 16 from 5:00-6:30pm. Email mterashima@sjvkirkland.org to get What's Up updates. Learn more
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This information was presented in past newsletters. |
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WE'RE HIRING
We are seeking a part-time full charge bookkeeper, a part-time afternoon receptionist, and a part-time pastoral assistant for music. Apply here.
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STYROFOAM RECYCLING FOR EARTH DAY
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MOVERS FOR MOMS
Drop items off in the narthex by Sunday, April 30.
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ADULT MISSION TREK TO TIJUANA
May 20-27, journey to Tijuana to build houses with our brothers and sisters across the border. Contact Susan, sweaver@sjvkirkland.org, for more information.
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MEN'S AND WOMEN'S RETREATS
Men: July 14-16, Women: July 21-23, save the dates! Registration forms will be available in the beginning of summer.
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WEAR YOUR FAITH
Visit the welcome table to get your gear.
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SJV VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
You are the church!
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IRON SHARPENS IRON MEN'S CONFERENCE
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The theme is Brokenness into Boldness.
Speakers include:
- Bishop Schuster
- Dr. Tom Curran
- Deacon James Thurman
- John Leonetti
Registration fee: $35 for early bird; $45 after March 30. Lunch will be provided.
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