2 April

Palm Sunday 

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

Readings:
Isaiah 50: 4-7.
Ps 21: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24.
Philippians 2: 6-11
Matthew 26:14 – 27:66

– Matthew 21:1-11

This gospel is read at the procession with palms before Mass:

When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her: untie them and bring them to me.

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them,” and he will send them immediately.’

This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘Tell the daughter of Sion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.’

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.’

Meditation

What are we really doing when we join this procession as part of the throng which went up with Jesus to Jerusalem and hailed him as King of Israel? … He was making his way towards the common feast of Passover, the memorial of Israel’s liberation from Egypt and the sign of its hope of definitive liberation. He knew that what awaited him was a new Passover and that he himself would take the place of the sacrificial lambs by offering himself on the cross. He knew that in the mysterious gifts of bread and wine he would give himself for ever to his own, and that he would open to them the door to a new path of liberation, to fellowship with the living God. He was making his way to the heights of the Cross, to the moment of self-giving love. The ultimate goal of his pilgrimage was the heights of God himself; to those heights he wanted to lift every human being.

Readings for next Sunday (Easter Sunday)

1. Acts 10:34,37-43.
2. Psalm 117:1-2, 16-17, 22-23.
3. Colossians 3:1-4

» DESTINATION FOR THE COLLECTIONS OF HOLY TRIDUUM

• Holy Thursday: For the poor.
• Good Friday: For the Holy Places.
• Easter Vigil and Sunday: For the priests at St. Paul’s Parish.

»ST. PAUL’S LENTEN ALMS

This year will help “Hogar San Anibal”, IVE Home for Disabled Children in Peru. Donation box on the way out. Thank you for your prayers too. 

»PARISH FINANCES

Our 2022 finances are available at the shop. For further information, just make an appointment at the parish office. 

»HOLY WEEK

Leaflets with the upcoming Mass schedule are available at the entrance of the church. For more information contact any of the priests.

 »ST. JOSEPH PRAYER GROUP

Will begin gathering on Tuesdays 5PM-6PM (For French Speakers). For information, please Contact Hervé 96295598.

»CARITAS PAPHOS

Thank you for your donations of non-perishable foods. Clothing and household item donations may be dropped off at the priest-house. Info, please contact Fr. Fernando. 

»COFFEE SHOP

Join us for some tea or coffee, shop bric-a-brac, enjoy community time. Volunteers needed, please contact Fr. Jim.

Mass Schedule for the Sacred Triduum

• Holy Thursday, 6 April: Mass of the Lord’s Supper

7PM AK, followed by Holy Hour of Adoration (Mass 6PM in town of Polis)

• Friday of the Passion of the Lord, 7 April: Good Friday

3PM AK, Celebration of the passion of the Lord followed by sermon of the Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross. (Liturgy 3PM in town of Polis)

6PM AK Stations of the Cross.

• Holy Saturday, 8 April: Easter Vigil Mass

4PM AK Poświęcenie pokarmów (Polish blessing of food).

7PM AK (Mass 7PM in town of Polis)

We will gather outside the church for the blessing of the fire and the Paschal Candle, then enter the church in procession. Liturgy of the word will include the seven OT readings, the reading from St Paul and the Gospel.

• Easter Sunday, 17 April Masses

• 10AM AK – H. Mass (Latin)
• 11AM AK – H. Mass (Polish)
• 12AM AK – H. Mass (English)
• 13.30PM AK – H. Mass (Singhalese)

Sri Lankan Mass: Every 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:15 pm.
Filipino Mass: Every last Sunday of the month at 12 pm.
Maronite Mass: Sunday at 9 am, Info: Fr. Youakim 9981 4316.