“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”
-Pope Francis
Sunday readings for March 17, 2024- Fifth Sunday of Lent
First Reading: Jer 31:31-34
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
Second Reading: Heb 5:7-9
Gospel: Jn 12:20-33
Announcements
Two Important Collections for the last days of Lent:
It has been our custom at Holy Redeemer to save money during Lent for Operation Rice Bowl. The collection will be taken next Sunday, Palm Sunday. The money helps the poor and starving people of the world and in Philadelphia.
On Good Friday all collections taken in Catholic Churches are for the upkeep of the shrines of the Holy Land. This support is especially important this year when there are few pilgrim visitors due to the war. Please be generous
The Chinatown Stitch
About 30 years ago, the Vine Street Expressway was built and Holy Redeemer was cut off from Chinatown. The Chinatown community overcame obstacles and built housing and the Crane north of Vine Street, thus creating Chinatown North. This was possible only because Holy Redeemer was and is the anchor of Chinatown North.
On March 11, the US government announced a $158 Million grant to build a cap over the Vine Street Expressway from 10th to 13th Streets. Soon there will be a park, green space and other positive development between Holy Redeemer and Chinatown’s core.
Special thanks to John Chin and PCDC for their tireless advocacy and to Cecilia Yep for her many decades of activism for Chinatown and Holy Redeemer.
Holy Week Schedule
Holy Thursday March 28 Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7 PM
Good Friday. March 29 Liturgy of the Passion 2 PM (Chinese)
Living Stations of the Cross 7 PM
Holy Saturday March 30 Easter Vigil Mass 7 PM
Easter Sunday March 31 Easter Mass 9 AM (English)
Easter Mass 10:30 AM (Chinese)
Please note that the 2 PM Good Friday service will be in Chinese
Summer Picnic June 2024
Mark your calendar. Holy Redeemer’s summer picnic will be on June 22 at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The students had no school on Friday March 15 due to the teachers meeting with parents about the children’s report card.
The children will be collecting non-perishable food items to include with their Operation Rice Bowl donations. All parishioners are invited to help in this effort by bringing non-perishable food items to Sunday Mass where there will be collection boxes. There is only two Sundays left to donate. Please be generous.
The 7th and 8th graders are continuing their rehearsals for their presentation of the Living Stations scheduled for Good Friday evening at 7 PM.
Holy Redeemer School was fortunate to attend two major events this past week. On Friday, March 8, the 4th through 8th graders attended the Philadelphia Flower Show courtesy of a grant from the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society thanks to one of the parents. Thanks to a generous donation to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the 7th and 8th graders attended with other archdiocesan schools a private viewing of the new movie, “Cabrini”, the story of Francesca Cabrini, the first American saint who helped improve the lives of poor immigrants after she arrived in New York.