HOLY WEEK LETTER FROM FATHER SEAN Dear St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Family, Holy Week, the most sacred liturgical season in our Church, is upon us. As your pastor, I know how difficult it is for all of us to comprehend that we aren’t physically able to worship together to commemorate our Lord’s Last Supper, to mourn His Passion and death and to celebrate His triumphant rise on Easter Sunday. I personally will miss celebrating with all of you this week. Each and every Mass and service during Holy Week has always given me tremendous personal joy in my ministry as a priest – from the beautiful symbolism and rituals to the tangible love and empathy for our Lord that moves among us as we worship together. So this Lent and Easter, as we are physically separated from one another, let us remember that we are still the family of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish and we can continue to honor our Lord through prayer, sacrifice, repentance and love for one another and our families. Lent has always been a time when we are called to embrace minor inconveniences so that we may possess a sliver of understanding of the immense sacrifice Jesus made for us on Good Friday. This year, we have all been experiencing sacrifice on a much larger scale. My sincere prayer for all of you is that this time of seclusion and apprehension brings you closer to your families and to the Lord, and allows you to focus on what is most important to each and every one of you. I also ask you to join with me in prayer for all of those who are suffering from illness and the doctors, nurses, and all health care employees who are working so hard and sacrificing so much at this time for the sake of others. I also ask that you keep our essential workers in your prayers as well. In closing, remember that through the example of Christ’s triumphant rise on Easter Sunday, light will conquer darkness. We will be together again in the near future to worship together, side by side. My hope is that our parish will be stronger than ever, as we appreciate the gift of each other, our faith and our parish family more than ever before. I wish you all a fulfilling Holy Week and a most joyous Easter. In Christ’s Enduring Love, Father Sean