We are pleased to share this homily preached by Father Tony Schuerger on Holy Thursday at the 07:30 PM Mass. To listen to the homily, first access the MP3 audio file. Want to subscribe to the St. Malachi Parish Homilies Podcast? Click Here
Washing of the Feet at Holy Thursday Liturgy
Prayer, fasting and peaceful vigils during Lent help save the lives of the most vulnerable among us.
See http://40daysforlife.com for details and stories. Prayer cards are available at the church doors.
Washing of the Feet at Holy Thursday Liturgy
The services of the Easter Triduum (translated, “three days”) at St. Malachi Parish (Cleveland) in 2016 are scheduled as follows:
The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday
The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
We hope that you can join us for part of all of this sacred celebration at St. Malachi. (Our patron saint is St. Malachy; note that our parish name is spelled differently.)
The Service of Light at the Easter Vigil
In keeping with our St. Malachi tradition, there is no Coffee Hour on March 20, 2016, Palm Sunday after either Mass. The church will be open for Eucharistic adoration between masses. Fr. Tony and Fr. Jim O’Donnell will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
Easter Triduum Liturgical Ministers are needed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 24 – 26, 2016.
Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, and ushers are needed for the Holy Thursday (7:30PM), Good Friday (3PM) and Holy Saturday (8:30PM) services.
Sign-up sheets are in the sacristy.
Please consider serving to help with the most sacred time of our liturgical year.
Your financial contribution will make a difference in the lives of our refugee brothers and sisters in the Middle East. Most refugees have had to flee their homes and livelihoods with little more than the clothes on their backs. Here are some examples of how your donation can make a difference in the lives of refugee families in Jordan. (Examples are for families of 5)
For additional information and details about the refugee crisis in Europe, see this Fact Sheet.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Fast Days for Catholics from their 18th through 59th birthday. Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence from meat for all who are over 14 years of age. “Fasting” means eating only one full/regular meal during the day, making other meals smaller and no snacks (except beverages). People with special medical conditions, fragile health or other serious reasons are NOT REQUIRED to fast.
Increase your prayer time during Lent by praying over the Daily Scriptures, participating in one of our Wednesday Evening Prayer experiences, coming to Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, praying for others’ needs, or trying traditional Catholic prayers such as the rosary or grace before meals. [Read more…]
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Lent reflects the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying before his public ministry began. While Moses (Exodus 34:28) fasted to prepare for God’s revelation, Jesus took it a step further by doing the practice out of love.
Washing of the Feet, Celebrated at St. Malachi Parish April 2, 2015
After carefully studying the ritual for the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, and with prayer, discussion and reflection, the Liturgy Commission has decided that we should do the traditional ritual of washing of the feet (mandatum) of selected members of the congregation this year. This is a departure from the St. Malachi tradition of hand washing that has continued for many years and so the washing of feet may not be familiar to many people who regularly attend Holy Thursday Mass at St. Malachi. Especially because of this, it may be helpful to reflect on the purpose and meaning of the washing of feet.
It may be tempting to focus on personal preferences and immediately react in terms of “I like this” or “I’d rather do that” ritual. What may be more helpful is to enter into reflection on the symbolism and meaning of the foot washing ritual itself. This will prepare us not only to understand, but to pray the ritual on Holy Thursday.
Gabe Huck reflects on the washing of the feet as an introduction and way to enter into the prayer of the Triduum [“three days” – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil]:
The mandatum rite is meant to be much more than the re-enacting what Jesus did. It is even more than fulfilling his words to “do what I have done to you.” The ritual washing of feet, whether or not such a gesture is any longer part of a people’s common practice, powerfully expresses Holy Thursday night: first moment of the church’s Triduum in which such signs of gentle attention and service say what we have received from our Lord. This Passover we have entered contains a very specific vision of the universal human theme of death and resurrection. Volumes and centuries of witness have helped to express this. And as Paul said, every time we break bread and share the cup we are proclaiming it. But in these three days the Christians who gather to pray need once-a-year prayers and gestures. Mandatum is one of these. To wash one another’s feet is to get very close to what makes us church, to our Easter Triduum. We do so in the presence of our “elect,” those who will be baptized at the Vigil; it can be the image of the church we wish to be and offer to them. [Read more…]
