SAINT AGNES CHURCH
Iglesia de Santa Inés
Weiser, Idaho
Easter Sunday, April 12
th, 2020
I greet you with a traditional Easter greeting of the Eastern Church,
“Christ is risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!” “He is risen indeed, Alleluia, Alleluia!”
Let us pray:
O God, who on this day through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (
Roman Missal, Collect of Easter Sunday)
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES: As is the tradition on Easter Sunday, I invite you to renew your Baptismal promises (you may wish to do this as a family):
Dear brothers and sisters, through the Paschal Mystery we have been buried with Christ in Baptism, so that we may walk with him in newness of life. And so, now that our Lenten observance is concluded, let us renew the promises of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and his works and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church. And so I ask you;
Do you renounce Satan?
And all his works?
And all his empty promises?
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesu Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
And may almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins, keep us by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord for eternal life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR EASTER SUNDAY: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 or John 20:1-9.
EASTER SUNDAY RINGING OF BELLS: A number of area churches are ringing their bells for 1 minute on Easter Sunday, this coming Sunday, beginning at 11:00 a.m. and have invited everyone to do the same. The bells of St. Agnes will join in, and everyone is invited to step outside to your porch or patio at
11:00 a.m. and ring for 1minute whatever bells you may have. Let us make a joyful Easter noise!
EASTER CUSTOMS: Many of our Easter customs have Christian roots and are meant to help us enter into the life of our Risen Lord.
Easter Eggs: The egg has long been a symbol of the closed tomb of Christ. As from an enclosed egg comes the new-born chick, so our Lord comes forth from his closed tomb. Easter eggs come in bright colors because the “cold, dark tomb has now become the source of new and glorious life. Elaborately painted and decorated Easter eggs are particularly a custom of the Eastern Church and are frequently exchanged as gifts among family and friends.
The Easter Rabbit: Rabbits are well known for their ability to procreate and multiply. So the life of our Risen Lord is to be widely shared and the number of the baptized is to multiplied. The Risen Lord generously and widely shares his life!
New Easter clothes: Easter Sunday has long been seen as an opportunity to bring out a new wardrove—“a new Easter bonnet.” So the newly baptized have, in the words of St. Paul “clothed [themselves] in Christ” (Gal. 3:27), and dressed in the white garments of Baptism. In addition, baptized Christians, having been newly washed clean through the penitential practices of Lent, are now made glorious once again, and thus put on their new Easter clothes. In the Russian Orthodox tradition Christians dress in bright and vibrant colored and richly embroidered clothes throughout the Easter Season.
Easter Foods: Numbers of ethnic and national groups have special Easter breads; these are, of course, a reference to the bread of the Eucharist. Having completed the rigorous fasts of Lent, the sharing of sweets and chocolates is frequently a part of Easter celebrations. A customary entre for Easter Sunday dinner is ham or another form of pork—through Christ’s resurrection Christians are “free from the law” (Rm. 8:2).
Flowers: In the northern hemisphere Easter occurs in the spring time, so flowers have long been part of Easter celebrations, especially the lily. The austerities of Lent being over, churches are richly and abundantly decorated with flowers. Spring flowers are a sign of the Risen Christ and Easter joy.
The 2020 PASCHAL CANDLE has been sponsored by the family of Deacon Francis and Ann Wander in the memory of their parents. Our thanks go to the Wander Family. May Ann and Deacon Francis rejoice in the light of the Eternal Easter. “A fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light (
Roman Missal, The Exsultet).
MANY THANKS to Ridley’s Family Market for the donation of over 100 food bags to St. Agnes’ Food Bank. The Food Bank continues its ministry each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:0 noon in the Parish Hall.
IDAHO CATHOLIC APPEAL: Many thanks to the parishioners who have participated in the Idaho Catholic Appeal. As of April 7
th, 14 families of St. Jude Church, Council, have given a total of $5,789, thus surpassing the goal of $2,843 (204%). Well done! At St. Agnes Church, Weiser, 35 families have participated and given $16,043 toward the goal of $18,702 (86%). And at Holy Rosary Church, Cambridge, 7 families have contributed $2,140 to the goal of $3,382 (63%). With the participation of all members of the Parish, each according to their abilities, the goals can be completed. This once-a-year diocesan wide collection supports the ministry and works of our Diocesan Church in Idaho. Please drop your contribution off at the parish office or mail it directly to the Diocese (please be sure to indicate your parish—very important!). “For the Glory of God!”
DATES FOR CELEBRATIONS: The dates of our coming celebrations are all quite tentative, depending on the lifting of the “stay-at-home” order and the reopening of the churches. We need to “wait and see” with all this; celebrations will be re-scheduled if need be and as this all unfolds. The schedule at present is:
First Reconciliation for the 1st Communion children will be re-scheduled as soon as possible.
First Communion: Sunday, May 3rd; at St. Agnes—9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon; at St. Jude, Council—3:30 p.m.
Graduation Mass: Sunday, May 17th at St. Agnes—9:00 a.m.
Confirmation: Tuesday, May 26th at St. Agnes—7:00 p.m.
Baptism of Catechumens: Pentecost Sunday, May 31st at St. Agnes—9:00 a.m.; at St. Jude, Council—3:30 p.m.
Adjustments to the above schedule will be made as needed.
Having now completed the 40 days of Lenten penitence, the Church now gives us 50 days (!) of Easter joy and celebration. May our Easter celebrations soon include freedom of health, mobility, and our daily active lives. Let us close with the Sequence of Easter Sunday (
Roman Missal).
Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
the glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.