This should come as no surprise, but I’m asking you to go to church.
In particular, I’m inviting you to go to church during Holy Week—the holiest week in the liturgical year. For some, I know this request is unnecessary—you already know where you’re going for each service and at what time and probably what pew you prefer.
But for others, you might not have yet considered attending a Holy Week liturgy. We’re all at different places in our faith journeys. However, if you wish to grow in your faith, the liturgies of Holy Week have a lot to offer.
I will never forget one particular Good Friday service I attended—over 10 years ago now—where everything just sort of “clicked” for me. I have been a cantor since college and singing in church choirs for much longer than that, but going to church was simply part of my routine.
Yet, watching the congregation come forward to venerate the cross, as I sang Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Deus in the choir—the music soaring through the massive space, with the words of the Passion still in my head from when it was read moments before—it was like my faith woke up. I remember thinking, “I understand now. THIS is what it is all about.”
So I’m inviting you to go to church during Holy Week—particularly if you feel your faith is “asleep.” To learn about the various Masses and liturgies of Holy Week, Father Michael D. Balash explains each one in detail here.
I’d also like to call your attention to a story about the renovations at St. Columba Cathedral, because Lent and Holy Week are wonderful times to make a personal pilgrimage. Consider attending Mass—perhaps the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 26, or Stations of the Cross at the Cathedral. If you don’t live near Youngstown, however, I realize it could be some time before you see the renovations in-person. I hope the photos and descriptions contained in this issue will help give you a taste of how the magnificent “Mother Church” of our diocese has been enhanced.
We also have some good news about the recent partnership with Boston-based network CatholicTV. As part of our Senior Living Guide, we talked with the Antonine Sisters in North Jackson about their Senior Day Care Program. Finally, we interviewed the Ursuline High School graduate Jerica Day, who saved her uncle’s life through organ donation. And we have much more besides! I hope you enjoy it all.
Happy Easter to you and yours! Until next month,
Katie Wagner
