Dear SGM Parish Family,

Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!

With these words yesterday on Palm Sunday, we inaugurated Holy Week 2020. It goes without saying that Holy Week this year will be like none other that we have experienced. Throughout the world, over a million people have been infected with COVID-19, and tens of thousands have died. Along with their great suffering, who among us is not feeling the pain of isolation and the economic impact of the pandemic? Perhaps most difficult for all of us is our inability to gather as the Body of Christ in this most holy time when we so long for the sacred nourishment of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion.

Despite all of this, the Lord has not left us orphaned; He is with us. From His throne, which is the cross, He speaks to each of us anew those words that were so frequently on His lips during His earthly life: Be not afraid. Indeed, He makes all things new. Even suffering is a sure sign of our closeness with God who has suffered for us.

While we acknowledge the great suffering the pandemic has caused, we must not overlook the hidden graces that are being offered to us. If we have the faith to see it, Our Lord is working a great purification and renewal in each of us. We have more time for prayer, and we have more time for family. But it is up to us how we will spend this time.

There are many ways for us to enter deeply into the mysteries of these days. You can find wonderful educational resources highlighting Holy Week at sgmparish.formed.org. You can join in the nightly Rosary conference call at 7:30pm each night by dialing (351) 999-4341. (Please note that the Rosary conference call will begin at 6:30 on Thursday of this week.)

And you can participate in the liturgies of the Sacred Paschal Triduum. From Thursday evening through Sunday, we will accompany Our Lord Jesus Christ from the Upper Room, where He will give us a radical example of humble love in the washing of His Apostles’ feet and in the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the sacred priesthood, to Calvary, where He will lay down His life for our salvation, to the empty tomb, where He will win the definitive victory over sin and death.

Each of our parish liturgies will be streamed online at www.youtube.com/frdavidskillman according to the following schedule:

• Thursday, April 9 - 7:00pm Mass of the Lords Supper
• Friday, April 10 - 3:00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
• Saturday, April 11 - 8:00pm Easter Vigil
• Sunday, April 12 - 8:00am Easter Morning Mass

After the conclusion of Mass on Holy Thursday, the church will be open for private prayer until midnight. Consider spending a little time with our Eucharistic Lord during His agony in the garden. When you do come, please be sure to observe social distancing guidelines by keeping a sufficient distance between yourself and other adorers.

Also, there are still opportunities to receive the particular graces offered in the Sacrament of Penance. Confessions will be available this week on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm, Saturday morning at 9:30am, and Sunday morning at 9:30am. (Please note that we will not have our regular 4:00pm confessions next Saturday afternoon.)

My friends, know of my spiritual closeness to all of you, especially in these most holy days. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or Father Huber if we can be of assistance in any way - even if you would welcome a smile and wave from our car in front of your home!  Although physically distant, we are spiritually united in Our Lord Jesus Christ. May He bless each of you and your families as you draw close to Him in this most unusual Holy Week!

Yours in Christ,

Father Skillman

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Rev. David P. Skillman
Pastor

Saint Gerard Majella Church
1969 Dougherty Ferry Rd.
Kirkwood, MO 63122
(314) 965-3985 ext. 2813