A Note From Father Eickhoff

April 2, 2023

Welcome to the most important week of the entire Christian year!

Look.  The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ marks the beginning of the critical part of God’s plan for our salvation and we would be greatly diminished in both knowledge of morality and of the true nature of God without the teaching of Jesus.  Therefore, we rejoice over the birth of Jesus as celebrated at Christmas.  Truly it is one of the most important events in the history of well, everything.  God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, has entered into His own creation. However, it is not THE most important event in the history of everything.  The most important event is recalled for us during this week when we as disciples of Jesus Christ remember the suffering and death Christ endured for our sake so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and reunion with God.  This week we rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus Christ which not only marks for us the truth of the claim that our sins are forgiven, but also is the proof that our hope in everlasting life is well-founded.  As much as we should and do value the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus; we value even more the salvation Christ gained for us upon the cross and the promise of everlasting life for those who hold fast to Jesus.

Yes, this week is more important than Christmas.

I encourage all of you to participate in the liturgies of Holy Week as much as possible.  Each day is charged with meaning for us as Christians.  The entirety of Holy Week sums up our Christian faith is just a few days of remembrance and celebration.  On Holy Thursday the Church will rejoice in the Mass of the Last Supper in which Jesus Christ instituted the Mass through which we receive the Holy Eucharist.  On Good Friday the Church will sorrowfully recall the suffering and death of our Savior Jesus Christ during the Passion Service.   And on the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) and on Easter morning (Easter Sunday) the Church will celebrate the resurrection.  You will find the schedule for Holy Week in the bulletin and online.

In Christ,

Fr. Stephen Eickhoff
Pastor