SWEDESBORO – “God is with us!”
These were the words of Bishop Joseph Williams as he celebrated Palm Sunday Mass the morning of March 29 at Saint Joseph Church, Saint Clare of Assisi Parish.
In his homily, Bishop Williams preached on how Jesus suffered and died for all – for the salvation of every man and woman – so that one day “we’ll be with Him face to face. That’s why we’re praising Him today.”
He continued, “What a gift, brothers and sisters, to have faith – the kind of faith that sees Jesus alive in our daily lives, even when our plans aren’t fulfilled, even when we have a bad day … even when we disappoint ourselves. God is in that. He is teaching us through it … to lay down our lives. But we need faith to see that.”
For this Sunday Mass, which began Holy Week, the Bishop was joined by Father Edward Kennedy, pastor, as well as Deacon Jerry Jablonowski, Deacon Joseph Garozzo, and Deacon Lou Presenza, who served as Master of Ceremonies.
Faithful holding palms filled the pews, many of which were families and children of all ages.
Claudia Trani-Melgar, who attended the Mass with her husband and daughter, shared, “It’s important to start Holy Week together as a family, to receive God in our hearts. We need to be prepared for the Passion of Christ.”
Parishioner Monique Giunta echoed that sentiment, saying she wanted her children to experience the Mass as she did when she was young. Her family participated in the offertory procession.
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Williams quoted Pope Benedict XVI, calling Palm Sunday “the great doorway to Holy Week,” and encouraged families to take part in the week’s liturgies including Holy Thursday and Good Friday, which lead to Easter Sunday.
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