Dear OLL Families,
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. It is a special Week deep into Lent which recounts a complex and meaningful series of events which lead to the Resurrection on Easter Day. By this understanding we can say Palm Sunday represents a preparation, a setting up, for the Resurrection to occur., we are reminded of the significance of complete obedience and respect for God's commandments. It is through our adherence to His commandments that we maintain a good relationship with God and with one another. Jesus emphasized the importance of keeping His commandments as an expression of our love for God.
We have some important updates and reminders to share with you as we prepare for the upcoming events at Our Lady of the Lake School.
Spring Uniforms
Spring uniforms will be in effect starting on Monday, April 8th. Please ensure that your child is dressed in accordance with the updated uniform guidelines from this date onwards.
Strategic Planning Meeting #2
We kindly request your attendance at the upcoming Strategic Planning Meeting #2, which is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26th. Your input and participation are valuable as we work together to shape the future of Our Lady of the Lake School.
Wishing you and your families a blessed and joyful Palm Sunday.
Have a beautifully blessed week,
You are cordially invited to attend our upcoming Strategic Planning Meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Your input and insights are invaluable as we shape the future of our school together.
Additionally, we kindly request that you take a few moments to complete the survey linked below to provide further input for our planning process:
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and appreciate your participation in the survey.
Today, we begin the most important week in the Church’s liturgical year. At Mass on Palm Sunday, we begin with Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem as we hold palm branches shouting, “Hosannah to the Son of David!” Within the space of 20 minutes, we are crying out “Crucify Him!” as Jesus stands before Pilate in judgement. We are blessed that Cardinal Tobin is with us to celebrate the 12 noon Mass.
We will have our final Lenten Holy Hour on Monday evening at 7pm. This time consists of a reading from Sacred Scripture and a reflection by one of our parish deacons. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for quiet meditation and will conclude with Benediction. The priests will not be available for confessions, however, due to the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral Basilica in Newark that evening.
Wednesday evening, we will gather at 7pm in the church for our annual Tenebrae. As we reflect on Scripture readings, our parish music ministry will offer musical meditations to help us contemplate the increasing darkness as we approach the end of Jesus’ earthly life.
There are no morning Masses during the Triduum. Instead, on Thursday, we will gather for Morning prayer at 9am. This ancient prayer of the Church is part of the Liturgy of the Hours reflecting on the Psalms. Then, at 7pm we will gather to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This Mass brings our focus on our Lord’s institution of the Eucharist as He celebrated the Passover with His disciples. This Mass ends with a procession to the Altar of Repose in the school auditorium as we remove the Eucharist from the body of the church. All are invited to come and spend some time in adoration during the night as we answer Jesus’ request: “Stay awake and pray.”
On Good Friday we begin again at 9am with Morning Prayer. Our Solemn Service of the Lord’s Passion begins at 3:00pm in the church. After the reading of the Passion, the Cross is brought in for all to venerate. Our youth will offer their “Living Stations of the Cross” beginning at 7pm. This is a wonderful parish tradition as they help us to meditate on the 14 stations of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa.
Again, we gather on Saturday morning at 9am for Morning Prayer. We invite everyone to bring food for their Easter meal to be blessed. The Easter Vigil begins at 8:30pm after the fall of darkness. The Easter fire is blessed outside the doors of the church from which the Paschal Candle is lit and processed into the darkened church. Then, listening to the story of salvation history through 9 readings, we celebrate Christ’s bursting forth from the tomb.
On Sunday, our Masses follow the regular Sunday schedule of 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 and 12:00. We all renew our baptismal promises during Mass as we are sprinkled with the Holy Water blessed at the Vigil.
I invite you to come and join us for as many of these wonderful celebrations as possible. It is important for us to know the extent that Jesus went through because of His love for us. Let us use this time to make a return to Him as we spend some time with Him in His hour of need.
Pax et bonum
Fr. Peter
Our Lady of the Lake School
Email: tconroy@myoll.org
Website: https://myoll.org/
Location: 26 Lakeside Avenue, Verona, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-239-1160
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollverona