Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 21, 2026 Bulletin Column Father De Celles
PASSIONTIDE. Today we cover the statues and crosses as we begin the last two weeks of Lent, called “Passiontide.” At this point in Lent some people often start to slip in keeping their Lenten penances, while others haven’t yet begun their penances at all. Passiontide reminds us to refocus or deepen our attention on the season and its purposes of repentance of sin, conversion of heart, and appreciation of Christ’s love manifested in His Passion and Cross. If you’ve been slacking in your observance of Lent, let’s get going. If you’ve neglected the season entirely, it’s not too late. Let us beg our Crucified Lord to shower us with His grace in these last two weeks of Lent, and that we may be open to His grace and love Him in return.
During Lent, our focus on our sins and God’s redeeming suffering and death for our sins are called to mind by the many outward signs of Lent. The bodily/physical reminders of these days are so important to our experiencing the meaning of the season—Jesus suffered and died for us in His human body. And so it is important to experience the mysteries of this season “in the flesh.”
In our daily lives this is seen in our penances, including fasting and abstaining from meat. In the Mass we see it in the suppression of the Alleluia every day, and the Gloria on Sundays, as these joyful prayers are set aside during the sober and somber season. In Passiontide the elevated intensity of our focus is expressed in the outward and dramatic sign of covering most of the crucifixes, statues, and other holy images in our churches. In part, this is to encourage us to sort of place ourselves 2000 years back in time with Jesus during those last two weeks before his Crucifixion and Resurrection: Good Friday has not yet happened, so there is no cross yet; Easter has not happened, so no saints are in heaven. Keep this in mind in the coming days: “I’m walking with Jesus, and Peter and John and the apostles…With Judas. With Mary Magdalene and Salome and the other holy women. Walking toward Jerusalem, stopping in Bethany, going to the temple…. In the Upper Room, at the Last Supper…In the house of Caiaphas…In the palace of Pilate…Standing with Blessed Mary as they scourge her sweet child….”
This focus “in the flesh” can be experience most especially in our liturgical and prayer practices. So, please, come to the church and physically take part in the various sacraments, liturgies and other pious activities of the Church and parish in the next few weeks.
I strongly encourage all of you to take advantage of the extra and longer confession times (we’ll have at least 2 priests hearing at most times). I also encourage you to go to one or more weekday Masses and spend time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, especially during Exposition on Wednesday from 9am to 7pm and on Friday from 9am throughout the evening and throughout the night (“Nocturnal”) until just before Saturday morning 9am Mass. And don’t forget praying the Stations of the Cross, especially in the church on Friday evening at 6:30 with other parishioners led by a priest.
Holy Week. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the beginning of Holy Week. Next week we will distribute a schedule for Holy Week, but I ask you now to plan ahead today. These are the most solemn and sacred days of the Christian year, marked by special and unique liturgies, including Holy Thursday’s evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with the solemn procession and silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight— “can you not watch one hour with me?” Then there’s Good Friday’s Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, with the Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion, which begins at 3pm—the hour of the Lord’s death. And finally, the Easter Vigil at the end of Holy Saturday evening.
Please, please try to participate in all of these liturgies that are so important to experiencing the fullness of Catholic prayer in Holy Week. I especially recommend that you attend the 3pm Good Friday service, with the Veneration of the Cross. I am always overwhelmed, edified and inspired as I see my good people humbly and happily coming to venerate the Holy Cross of Jesus and to receive His Most Holy Body in Communion. It is a powerful liturgy—stark, dramatic, somber, mournful, and transformative.
Lenten Series. I invite you to join me this Thursday at 7pm in the Parish Hall as I conclude my Lenten Series entitled, “The Mass Explained.” This week I will be concluding my discussion of “The Rituals, Prayers and Symbols” of the Mass, and then, finish off with focus on the Roman Canon, that is, Eucharistic Prayer I. I hope to see you there.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This coming Wednesday, March 25, is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, remembering the Archangel Gabriel apparition to the Virgin Mary to announce, and receive her consent to, the miraculous conception of Jesus. Thus, it is traditionally understood to be a memorial of the event of Conception of Jesus, so that exactly nine months later, on December 25, we celebrate His birth. I encourage you all to celebrate by attending Mass at 6:30am, 8:30am or 7pm.
Fellowship. It was good to see so many of you at last Saturday’s St. Patrick and St. Joseph Day Dinner enjoying good food, music, and fellowship. These kinds of social events are so important to the life of a vibrant Catholic parish, as opportunities to share the love and joy of Christ together, and to get to know each other better so as to live and work together as the Body of Christ in Springfield. Thanks for all who worked so hard to make the evening a success, especially the Knights of Columbus.
I remind you all that we also gather every Friday of Lent at 5pm in the Parish Hall for a Soup Supper before the Rosary and Stations. Please join your fellow parishioners for a delicious but simple meal. It’s Potluck, so bring a pot of meatless soup, macaroni & cheese, fruit, salad or bread to share. And if you can’t bring food, come anyway and just bring your appetite!
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles