Preparing the church

It took a lot of work by a lot of folks to prepare the church for the Triduum and Easter Services. Thank you to all of you!

Happy Easter

The image above is in Fr. Damian's office. It depicts the disciples Peter and John (the other disciple whom Jesus loved) as they rush to the tomb as described in today's Gospel. John is young, Peter is old, and each runs with their own thoughts. Here is today's Gospel:

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Welcome to the Church

Living Stations of the Cross

Before leaving for Easter break, the 8th grade students at St. Columbkille Catholic School led the students in Living Stations of the Cross.

A slideshow below shows images of that devotion with audio of Fr. Vogel chanting.

Blessing the Oils

Every year we get Holy Oils. But what is the process by which they are blessed?

They start as containers of olive oil. These are place on an altar in a side chapel of the St. Cecelia Cathedral before the annual Chrism Mass. In the Omaha Archdiocese, this is traditionally held the Monday of Holy Week.

They are carried forward by teams of deacons and presented by people "involved" with the use of these oils.

For example the Holy Chrism was presented by Fr. Paul Hoesing and Linda Thomsen from the vocations office as this chrism will be used to ordain two new priests this summer. By chance both of those priests to be are in this picture: Deacon Ben Boyd is on the far side of Archbishop Lucas and Deacon Matt Capadano in on the near side. Dcn Capadano spent part of last summer helping us here at St Columbkille.

As the oils are announced, the deacons hold the oils aloft.

The same process is done for the Oil of the Sick as they are
 presented by Dr. Cheryl Pitner and Dr. Lloyd Pierre Jr. ...

... and the Oil of the Catechumens presented by Joyce Glen.

The oils are blessed by Archbishop Lucas as the deans bless them as well.

Archbishop Lucas pour the chrism into

 the olive oil to create the Holy Chrism.

He also breathes upon it as part of the rite.

The Mass goes forward with the oils on the side.

At the end of Mass, the oils are carried out.

In the back, Fr. Michael Gutgsell of St. Cecilia Cathedral oversees an impressive group of stewards who distribute the now blessed oils into plastic vials to be distributed to every parish in the archdiocese.

Last night, during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we received our oils.

Divine Mercy

We are entering special days of grace and blessing.

During Holy Week we can unite ourselves with Jesus as He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist and through his passion and death. Then we can rise with Him in the Resurrection.

Through these events the mystery of Divine Mercy unfolds. They continue through the Easter Octave -- one glorious day God extends into eight, ending with Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27.

One way to partake more fully in our Lord's merciful love is through a Divine Mercy novena -- nine days of prayer -- which many people begin on Good Friday. We can meet Jesus in the confessional during this time for a more complete outpouring of His mercy.

More information on the Divine Mercy devotion, including its history and some prayers, can be found online or in Catholic bookstores.

This year, on Divine Mercy Sunday, we'll have a bonus gift of two new saints, Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, who, fittingly, will be canonized that day.

We truly have been blessed through God's mercy.

All praise Him!

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

A Joint Choir

On Sunday at 10:30 we were delighted to have the Children's Choir from St. Joseph's in Springfield join our Children's Choir as they sang together.

Palm Sunday

Mass on Palm Sunday began in the back of the church and with a much larger procession than normal.It was a great start to Holy Week.

It's Been a Year

It was a year ago today that Dr. Blue passed away. She made a significant difference in our school in a short times. She deserves a great deal of credit for moving us towards Advanced Accreditation. 

In retrospect it is perhaps even more amazing to realize how well the staff stayed together and moved forward as she fought and surcame to cancer.

She is the intention of the noon Mass today.