I wish for you to use this Lent to prepare for Easter, whether by deepening your prayer life or regularly engaging with God's word.
During the week of March 30, there will be a ministers' meeting on Monday at 5 PM at St. Family Church. There will be no online meeting on Tuesday. On Friday at 4:45 PM, we will continue at the Club with the children’s preparation for their first Holy Communion. On Friday at 5 PM, there will be first Friday adoration at St. Family Church; there will be no Stations of the Cross after Mass, but the invitation to the Stations of the Cross on Petřín remains on Tuesday at 8 PM, meeting at the first station. On Saturday, April 5, at 9 AM, we invite and ask for your participation in a pre-Easter cleaning of St. Martin's Church. Please bring work clothes. Next Sunday’s Mass will include a sermon for children. After Mass on Sunday, there will be parish coffee; please bring refreshments, thank you in advance. On Sunday at 10:30 AM, the following will be baptized at St. Martin's Church: Leila Pištolová and Petr Hovorka.
During the week of April 6, there will be a Scripture study meeting at the Club on Monday at 7 PM. On Tuesday at 8:30 PM, there will be an online catechism hour. On Thursday at 7 PM, there will be a meeting of the parish pastoral council at the Club. On Friday at 4:45 PM, children's preparation for their first Holy Communion will continue at the Club. On Friday after Mass, there will be a Stations of the Cross at St. Family Church. Next Sunday, branches will be blessed during Mass. Please bring your branches; they will also be available at the church. Thank you to everyone who helped with yesterday's cleaning at St. Martin's Church.
With the week starting on Sunday, April 13, we enter Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, you are invited to festive Vespers with visual meditation at Strahov – it starts at 7:30 PM in the Strahov Basilica, and it can also be followed online on the YouTube channel of the Strahov Monastery. On Monday, April 14, at 4:30 PM, there will be an opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation at St. Family Church. On Tuesday at 8:30 PM, there will be an online Bible study hour. On Wednesday, we invite ministers to a meeting at St. Family Church at 5 PM. Attendance is important for the rehearsal of the Holy Week Triduum ceremonies. On Maundy Thursday, the foot washing ceremony will take place during Mass, followed by guided adoration in the Garden of Gethsemane. Good Friday is a day of strict fasting (fasting from meat combined with fasting from other foods, which applies to Catholics aged 18 to 60). There will be a Stations of the Cross at St. Family Church at 9 AM. Subsequently, the church will be open for silent prayer. In the evening at 9 PM, you are invited to the Stations of the Cross on Petřín, meeting in front of the Strahov Basilica. On Holy Saturday, I invite you to morning prayer with readings at St. Family Church at 8 AM. Following that, the rites of initiation for Christian adults before baptism will take place. At the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord, the foods will be blessed at the end of the Masses; please place them either before the altar or keep them at your seat. Please note that the Mass at St. Martin’s is at 10:30 AM. You will also find the program of Easter services in our parish in the attachment of this article.
Sunday, April 20, is the day of the Resurrection of the Lord, at the end of the Masses, we bless the foods — either keep them with you or place them before Mass in front of the altar. After the Mass, there will be parish coffee; if you can, please bring something for refreshments, thank you in advance. On Tuesday at 8:30 PM, there will be an online catechism hour. On Friday at 4:45 PM, children’s preparation for their first Holy Communion will continue at the Club. Then, on Saturday, we will have the children’s first reconciliation at 4:30 PM at St. Family Church. Next Sunday during the 9 AM Mass, the children will receive the Eucharist for the first time. I sincerely thank everyone who participated in celebrating the Easter liturgy, all the church helpers, ministers, choir members, singers, organists, and all who were willing to help. Today on Sunday at 7:30 PM, I invite you to festive Vespers with a procession to the baptismal font with us at Strahov, followed by the entire Easter octave at 5 PM. In the attachment of the article, we bring you the pastoral letter of Archbishop Jan Graubner for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.
In the week starting with Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, we have: On Tuesday at 7:30 PM, there will be prayer with songs from Taizé at St. Family Church. Subsequently, on Tuesday at 8:30 PM, there will be an online Bible study hour. On Thursday at 7 PM, there will be a Scripture study meeting at the Club. On Friday at 5 PM, there will be first Friday adoration of the Eucharist at St. Family Church. In May, May devotions will be held from Monday to Friday after Mass.
We invite you to Strahov for a workshop on Handmade Paper Creation on Saturday, April 26, from 9 AM to 6 PM. This event by the Strahov Library and graphic school in Hellichova Street will include not only the paper-making process and booklet creation but also a presentation by librarian Jan Pařez, a tour of the library and church including a demonstration of Strahov organs. Details including registration, prices, and other information can be found on the poster on the notice board and in the attachment of this article.
To encourage the understanding of the meaning of the Easter ceremonies, I share this video by Radek Tichý.
I wish you a peaceful month of April and much strength for all your tasks.
Gregory J. Žáček.
Download
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for reading in the app here: Pastoral letter for the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord (114.28 kB)
