 Check out the Mary, Mother of God Parish's digital photo album for Holy Week! New photographs will be uploaded each day so you can follow along with all the celebrations. (Click "Read More" to see all of the photographs.) You can contribute your own photos of parish devotions to the album by emailing them to the parish office. May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to you and those you hold most dear. May Christ, Our Risen Savior, always be there by your side to bless you most abundantly and be your loving guide. Amen
Today is Holy Saturday. Join us for Office of Readings and Lauds at 9 AM and Blessing of Easter Baskets at 10 AM, both at St. Ita church (5500 N. Broadway). The Easter Vigil will begin at 8 PM at St. Ita church. (La Vigilia Pascual comenzará a las 8 PM en la iglesia de Santa Ita.) On Holy Saturday, the Church is at the Lord's tomb. We mourn with the first disciples and meditate on Christ’ passion and death. We also remember his descent into hell where he preached the Gospel and opened the way to heaven for those who had died before. The Church awaits his resurrection with prayer and fasting on this day. This concludes Holy Week. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.
Today is Good Friday, the day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Join us for private prayer with the statute of the body of Christ in our three churches from 12-3 PM. Each church will host Stations of the Cross at 3 PM. (El Vía Crucis en español será en la iglesia de Santa Ita (5500 N. Broadway) a las 5 PM.) The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will be at 7 PM at St. Ita church (5500 N. Broadway). On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, we unite ourselves to our Savior and contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.
In memory of Howard & Lorien Kimlin On Holy Thursday, we again began offering the Precious Blood of Christ (consecrated wine) as a fuller sign of Communion at Mass. Earlier this year, the Filipinos of Mary of God Parish donated the funds to purchase the chalices necessary for the distribution of Precious Blood. The chalices have been engraved in honor of this generous gift.
Today is Holy Thursday, the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Please join us in celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 PM at St. Ita church (5500 N. Broadway). This will be followed by Adoration at St. Gregory the Great church (5545 N. Paulina) from 9 PM – 12 AM. Compline (night prayer) will be sung at 10:30 PM. With the Mass of The Lord’s Super, the Church begins the sacred Easter Triduum. This is the memorial of the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At the supper on the night he was betrayed, Jesus lovingly offered his Body and Blood to the Father under the appearance of bread and wine and gave them to the apostles to eat and drink. After a long break, Mary, Mother of God Parish is preparing to again offer Communion under both species. Beginning on Holy Thursday, a shared chalice will be available for those who wish to receive. To address concerns and answer questions, we put together the following FAQ.  Am I obligated to receive both forms of Communion at Mass? There are two forms, or species, of Holy Communion — 1) the consecrated bread, the Host or the Body of Christ, and 2) the consecrated wine, or the Precious Blood of Christ. It is completely proper to receive only the Host at Mass if you do not wish to drink from the Chalice. Christ resurrected is fully present under both species. What is the significance of the shared chalice? As Catholics, we are sacramental people so we recognize a relationship between the physical and spiritual. We proclaim our unity in Christ through the symbol of the shared chalice. Also, we celebrate the Eucharist more fully when the Lord’s Real Presence is consumed under both species. Is it safe to drink from the same cup? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found no documented transmission of any infectious disease traced to the use of a common communion cup. The consensus of the CDC is that there is a theoretical risk of transmitting diseases by using a common communion cup, but the risk is so small that it is undetectable.
Serving as a Eucharistic Minister
If you feel called to serve as an extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, assisting our clergy in distributing Holy Communion at Mass, please email our Director of Music & Liturgical Ministries, Daniel Lagacy. ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be NO Benediction at St. Thomas of Canterbury church on Tuesday, April 15 (Tuesday of Holy Week). Parishioners are encouraged to attend the Tenebrae service at 7:30 PM at St. Ita church (5500 N. Broadway) that evening.  ANUNCIO: No habrá benedicción en la iglesia de Santo Tomás de Canterbury el martes 15 de abril (Martes de Semana Santa). Se anima a los feligreses a asistir al servicio de Tenebrae a las 7:30 PM en la iglesia de Santa Ita (5500 N. Broadway) esa noche.
Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. 🌿 🫏 👑 During Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners who carry them in a ritual procession into church. The palms are blessed, and many people will fashion them into small crosses or other items of personal devotion. Because the palms are blessed, they may not be discarded as trash. Instead, they are appropriately gathered at the church and incinerated to create the ashes that will be used on the follow year's Ash Wednesday. The colors of the Mass on Palm Sunday are red and white, symbolizing the redemption in blood that Christ paid for the world. Click here for the Mass readings.  Thank you to the Charismatic Prayer Group for hosting their annual Lenten Holy Spirit Renewal Recollection day! Saturday was a day filled with praise and worship, prayers and gratitude. Our pastor Fr. Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv. said the opening prayer and the welcome address followed by Fr. Bob Miller, Fr. Noel Reyes, Dr. Mark Nimos, Dr. Leo Jaboni, and other sharers and organizers. Attendees said it was a "Fruitful day!" *Photos courtesy of parish volunteer Yasha Hookens
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