A Very Strange Holy Week

From the Pastor:    A Very Strange Holy Week

       This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Passiontide, or Palm Sunday. It will be a Palm Sunday like none I have ever celebrated. I wish I could say that it was going to be the “best” one or the “most solemn” one or something like that but instead the truth is that it will be the oddest one. Some general guidelines came down from Rome with the expectation that Bishops could tweak them as their own circumstances necessitated. Here is what we will follow as per our diocese's chancery office:

1. There will be no physical presence or participation of the faithful. Instead, if there is the possibility of livestreaming the celebration for the faithful, pastors are encouraged to do so. [We won’t be doing so from Epiphany.]
   
2. The only other ministers present can be deacons, music, readers or anyone else deemed necessary to celebrate the liturgy in a dignified and sacred manner while maintaining proper spacing. [So attending will be those who are commonly called “ministers”, i.e., a minimal number of altar boys and choir members, a deacon and perhaps a subdeacon if we have them available, and me.]
   
3.  Option 1 for the Novus Ordo Mass, which does not allow for a procession with the palm branches.
   
4. Option 2 for the Novus Ordo Mass, which does not allow for a procession with the palm branches. [Obviously, we will not have a procession with the palm branches!]
   
5. Normal readings.
   
6. Normal Mass.
   
7. Options for distributing blessed palms:
   
   1. Since it is asked that churches remain open [ours is closed due to the renovation of the sanctuary. Neither the Blessed Sacrament nor people can be in there while construction is going on. We will leave blessed palms outside for you to pick up later on Palm Sunday or during Holy Week.]
      
   2. After the celebration of the Mass, the blessed palms could be handed to the faithful as they drive up. Precautions for the protection of volunteers and the faithful according to CDC protocols should be in place. [We will do this, too. Mass times have not changed even though you cannot be physically present. When Mass is done somebody will step outside to hand out blessed palms to anyone who wishes to receive one. They will wear gloves so there is no touching of the palms but you will have to be close enough to grab one, even if from your car window, and the palms are not over 6 feet long. Of course, the ones we leave out could very well be handled by the very first person who comes up and grabs all of them looking for “just the right one” so decide for yourself which method you prefer. The entire Passion is read/chanted, so Mass is longer than normal. On the other hand, there is no homily or long distribution of Holy Communion, so the Mass is shorter than normal. What time will we distribute blessed palms? My best guess is at 8:30 am and 12:00 noon and somebody will stay to distribute them for 20 or 30 minutes in case anyone drives up. If you come and nobody is there with palms in their gloved hands, you are either too early or too late and will have to get them from the pile we leave outside. If there is no pile, either there are none blessed yet (you are too early) or someone took them all to weave crosses. Don’t do that, please!]
      

       There are more guidelines for Holy Week, especially for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil/Mass. None of them allow for a congregation and there will be no sacraments of initiation even for those who are prepared to enter the Church. We don’t know when they will be allowed entry but it will be as soon as possible. With the exception of those “ministers” needed for the Masses and ceremonies, nobody will be present for these days which are so looked forward to all year long. Thanks be to God that the Communion of Saints is a reality! The altars will be surrounded by all of the Saints and Angels who are worshipping God in Heaven, for Heaven and Earth touch during these celebrations. Two thousand years and today are brought together either through time or outside of time for these celebrations. All of the faithful of the Church Militant who are deprived will cry out in anguish for what they are missing but also in joy for what is being done on their behalf. We priests, too, are crying in anguish that we cannot bring you in for the Masses and ceremonies and blessings, but we are also crying out in joy that we are still able to bring these graces, although hidden, to Earth. May God have mercy on us all.

With prayers for your holiness,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka