New Music Director and Holy Week

04-14-2019Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

Congratulations to Mr. Nick Garza for being selected as our new Music Director. Nick comes with many years of experience in the music ministry and worship leadership. He is also the owner of Nick Garza Productions, specializing in Audio and Video Media Engineering. Nick's wife, Nikki is also a Church musician and worship leader. Nick, Nikki and their four children will be joining us at Mass this weekend. Please join me in welcoming Nick and his family to our parish community. I pray their ministry will bring many blessings to our parish community. I thank everyone for your prayers, patience and understanding during the past five weeks while we were searching for our new Music Director. My special thanks to the Choir members for the wonderful music, even in the absence of a Music Director.

Holy Week

Holy Week begins today with the Palm Sunday celebration and ends on Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil Mass. Holy Week is the peak of the Liturgical Calendar of the Church and the most important week for Catholics. The liturgy of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil form the three day celebration commonly known as the "Triduum" during which we commemorate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We often refer to Holy Week as "The Week that Saves the World." This is because, within this week, Jesus gives us the most precious gift of His Body and Blood when He institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday. On Good Friday, He made the ultimate sacrifice by accepting death on the cross to free us from the bondage of sin and to redeem us as children of God. On Easter Sunday, He defeats the power of death and rises triumphantly from the tomb to show us the power of the resurrection and the glimpse of the glory of heaven. Theologically, the liturgical celebrations during the Triduum is one continuous celebration of the Paschal Mystery, but celebrated in three days.

I encourage all of us to participate actively in the Holy Week activities. In our Diocese, the Holy Week activities will begin tomorrow, April 15, with the celebration of Chrism Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, Phoenix. All the priests and religious in the Diocese are expected to a end the Mass to renew their vows/promise and commitments during the Mass. Also, during the Mass, the Bishop will bless the sacred oils we use for anointing at Baptism, Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick. The Chrism Mass is a very beautiful Mass and I encourage you to attend, if you can. For Holy Week activities at St. Benedict, please, check our bulletin, the notice board in the lobby, and our parish website.

Thank you and Remain Blessed.
Fr. James

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