Palm Sunday

Dear Parish Family & Friends,

We have come to Holy Week. This is the crux of the liturgical year. As a famous preacher once said, “The Cross is the crossroads where all roads cross.” I renew my yearly encouragement to take part in as many, if not all, of the special liturgies taking place this week, principally the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening; the Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday afternoon, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. As a bonus, on Tuesday at the Cathedral in Pensacola, all the priests of the Diocese will gather with the bishop for the Chrism Mass, where we will renew our priestly promises, and the oil used in the sacraments for the upcoming year will be consecrated.

On another but related note, you certainly have noticed the violet veils covering the crucifix and statues in our church. Why? This is an old custom. The last two weeks of Lent have an intensified character as we draw closer to the Passion of Jesus. The veils symbolize different things. One indication of the veils is the somber nature of these days. It’s a stark reminder that the Lord will be taken from us; he will be hidden, in a sense. Also, the images that we enjoy in our faith are all related to the Incarnation and the salvation won through the Death and Resurrection of the Incarnate Christ. The veils remind us that none of these images would be around if it weren’t for the Paschal Mystery. The veils also serve as a link to Good Friday, when after not having seen the crucified Lord for a period of time, we are starkly reminded how much we need to look at it.

I hope you will join us for the Sacred Paschal Triduum this year. They are all moving liturgies that really help us enter into the mystery of these days. As is always the case, when we celebrate these realities, they really are made present to us. We have a great opportunity to accompany the Lord in his trials. Let’s go to be with Him.

-Fr. Kennell