Dear Friends,

As I write this letter, I am reminded of the importance of Lent as a season of preparation for the most important event of our faith that leads us to the Cross and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

This forty day period marks the time Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. Forty days is also a shared experience in Moses talking with God on Mount Sinai and the Jews wandering in the wilderness during the exodus. It is our period for prayer, sacrificial offerings, meditation, and spiritual renewal. However we fulfill our Lenten period, we remind ourselves of our need for eternal life with Christ.

Lent has likely been an Easter preparation practice since the time of Christ and became an official practice in the Catholic Church at the first council of Nicaea in 325.

As Lent nears its end, we see in our practice of the Easter Triduum; Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the purpose of our Lenten sacrifices: our goal of Resurrection in Christ. The pinnacle of our lives. Although the Triduum is technically three days beginning the night of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday, it is actually one day that unfolds for us Christ’s Paschal Mystery.

The Liturgies that take place during the Triduum here at St. Maximilian are:

• Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday -7pm
• The Lord’s Passion on Good Friday-3pm & 7pm
• Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Vigil-7:30pm/Easter Sunday-7am, 9am, & 11am.

Please join us in the culmination of our Lenten practices and offerings on these three days here at St. Maximilian Kolbe as we celebrate together as the family of Christ all that we can offer Him, ourselves. It is always a joy for me to celebrate with you these beautiful liturgies.

We also want to welcome our new additions to our Catholic Faith that will be brought to our family in Christ on Easter Vigil. We are blessed to have them join our journey of faith. Their journey so far has been one of learning, soul searching, and openness to Christ’s message through the Church. Welcome!

I wish you many blessings.

Sincerely in Christ,
Msgr. Paul Albee, Pastor