Passion Sunday

¶March 25, 2007 – Passion Sunday.
Sunday Serving Classes continue today at 10:40 AM.
At 12:45 PM today, a delicious Sunday Spaghetti Dinner will be offered as a little fund raiser – $5/adults; $3/children; $20/family – followed at 2:00 PM by the Medieval Play Everyman, presented by the students, staff and volunteers of St. Gertrude the Great School.
This special Sunday afternoon ends with the First Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation and Benediction.

The Feast of the Annunciation.
Pro-Life Afternoon of Adoration
The feast of the Annunciation is a very logical day to storm heaven for the intentions of the Pro-Life cause, all of our needs and in Reparation for Abortion. Following the 11:30 AM High Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be Exposed for an afternoon of pro-life adoration and reparation. At 2:30 PM Vespers of the Annunciation; 5:00 PM Rosary and Devotions with Benediction at 5:30 PM and the concluding Mass is at 5:45 PM.

¶Children’s Stations of the Cross
This is the last week for the Wednesday afternoon stations at 3:00 PM with our children. Have you made your Stations this Lent? At least once?

¶Sorrowful Mother Novena
The last of our Lenten Fridays before Good Friday itself is this week, the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 7:30 PM will be the Stations of the Sorrowful Mother and the final evening of the Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick. Come to comfort your Mother and beg her for peace in the world and the grace of a good Holy Week.

¶Next Sunday
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Palms are blessed and distributed at 7:15 AM as well as at the moving blessing ceremony and Procession at 9:00 AM. There are no Children’s Catechism Classes. Palms are available at every Mass. Confessions will be heard before and during all Masses. Vespers and Benediction will be at 4:45 PM.
Set your missal: April 1st. Palm Sunday, Pref: Holy Cross. At Low Masses – Proper Last Gospel: from Blessing of Palms.

¶Rosary Confraternity
The Rosary Confraternity will meet at 11:00 AM in front of the Auburn Avenue Abortion Clinic to pray the rosary on Saturday, March 31st. A light breakfast will follow the 9:00 AM Mass before proceeding to the abortion clinic.

¶Easter Novena / Memorial Flower Offerings
Envelopes for the Easter Novena of Masses and Flower donations are available in the vestibule and from the ushers. The Novena of Masses will be said daily beginning with Easter Sunday. Names of loved ones for the Memorial Flower Offerings will be listed in the Easter bulletin. Envelopes for the flower offerings must be returned by Monday of Holy Week to be included in the Easter bulletin. Please be generous.

¶In Your Charity…
Please pray for the following sick persons: Michael LeBlanc, brother of Kim LeBlanc and also for Sarah French.
Our prayers and sympathy go to Priscila Sison, upon the death of her father. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen.
¶The Paschal Sacraments
First Testing & First Confessions: Saturday, April 21st. (Baptismal Certificate must be presented before testing, and form filled out.)
• Obligatory Day of Recollection for all First Communion Children: Thursday, May 24th.
Confirmation: Saturday, May 26th.

First Holy Communion: Sunday, June 10th.
Parents, please remember, you must submit to the Office by tomorrow, March 25th, the Baptismal certificates of children not baptized at St. Gertrude the Great. If your child is not enrolled in the school or Sunday School, please let us know if you are planning on bringing him to be tested in April. Unless we have the Baptismal certificate, we will be unable to do the necessary testing. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a child is ready for the Sacraments. Please consult the priest. The Church earnestly desires all children to receive Our Lord as soon as possible.

Holy Helper Volunteers
March 26th – April 7th

Special Schedule for
Holy Week/Easter Preparations!

Tuesday March 26th–Friday March 30th:
HOLY WEEK/EASTER PREPARATION
Katie Bischak; Rose Kuebler; Deb Wilker and girls, Lexi Briggs and girls.
Ironing – Nathalie Andreotta, Mrs. Mattingly, Linda Cardamon; sewing/mending – Rita Ferguson.

Saturday, March 31st:
Palm Sunday Preparation
Next Saturday we need a crew of adult men and boys to strip, cut and bundle palm for Palm Sunday; — plus…
Marlys Arlinghaus; Gerry Keaveney; Wilker family; Katie Bischak.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Holy Thursday afternoon & evening; and Good Friday afternoon and evening
HOLY WEEK Preparations
Rose Kuebler; Becky & Mary Rose Uhlenbrock; Katie Bischak; Kathy Cozzens; Theresa Hill; Gerry Keaveney; Wilker Family;
Ironing – Nathalie Andreotta, Mrs. Mattingly, Linda Cardamon; sewing/mending – Rita Ferguson.

Saturday, April 7th:
Holy Saturday Preparation for Easter
Katie Bischak; Rose Kuebler; Rita Ferguson; Jeanne Hille; Jean Bischel; Wilker family; Gerry Keaveney; Chris Ritze.
Ironing – Nathalie Andreotta, Mrs. Mattingly, Linda Cardamon; sewing/mending – Rita Ferguson.

Volunteers, please contact Katie Bischak, or Sr. Mary Magdalen and let us know when you could help during these next two weeks.
¶Our First Annual Jog-A-Thon
April 28th is only a month away. By now, you should have forms that have been filled out and some checks and/or cash. Please turn in all forms and money to the church office or give them to Marlys Arlinghaus or Connie in the Book Store.
Saturday, March 31st Michael’s on Tylersville Road is allowing us to set up a table to solicit sponsors for the Jog-a-Thon.
Saturday, April 14th and 21st, the Beckett Ridge Krogers is also allowing us to set up tables to solicit sponsors.
We need parental supervision – moms and dads – to supervise these tables. There will be a sign-up sheet in Helfta Hall. We need parents to participate with the children and take an hour or two to help out.
Our list of participating sponsors is growing! Their names are on a sign near the entrance doors in the vestibule. Have you contacted anyone we could add to this list???
This can be a really great fund raiser if everyone takes part, and a wonderful source of outside revenue. If you need additional sponsor forms or flyers you will find them in the Book Store.

¶The Bookstore…
is looking for a few good women or men (young adults are welcome!) to help in the bookstore after the 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM Masses – working behind the counter taking care of sales. If you are interested please see Connie.

¶Upcoming Events
We are planning a Spring Cleaning / Rummage Sale sometime in June. If you are starting your spring cleaning, please set aside clean, serviceable items for the sale. More details will follow after Easter.
¶The Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart statue, now veiled for Passiontide, has been moved to the side chapel, (where the Scourged Christ stood) with its votive candles, in preparation for the Altar of Repose which will be set up at St. Joseph’s altar this year.
¶We beg women…
Now that warm weather is upon us, to appear in church dressed modestly. “Fashions will be introduced which will offend God very much,” Our Lady of Fatima warned. The skirt should be full, not tight, and fully cover the knees.
Women and girls, remember you are a “walking temple of God,” and thus must be modest not only in church, but everywhere. In most circumstances, most trousers or slacks, (like a low cut blouse or tight sweaters) offend against modesty, and are an occasion of sin, as they are designed to draw a man’s eyes to what is distinctive in a woman. Modesty protects purity and is inspired by charity.