Phone Email YouTube Facebook

Family Ministry

The cast of the Living Stations of the Cross pose for a group picture before their performance Monday evening. You can watch a recording of the live-stream on our Facebook page.

Happening This Week in Corpus Christi Parish Community

Wednesday, March 31st
Adoration immediately following 12:00pm Mass at Holy Child and lasting until 8:00pm. Confession available 7-8pm.

Thursday, April 1st - Holy Thursday
Mass, 7:00pm @ Holy Child
7 Church tour for High School Youth Group, sign up with Brandon

All three of our churches will be open until 11:00pm for prayer and adoration. Come and "watch" an hour with the Lord, as He asked

Friday, April 2nd - Good Friday
Service, 1:30pm @ Holy Child

High Schol Youth are invited to watch "The Passion of the Christ" together at 3:00pm in the Youth Room. Contact Brandon for more information.

Tenebrae Service, 8:00pm @ Holy Child

Saturday, April 3rd - Holy Saturday
Blessing of Easter Baskets
10:00am @ St. Barbara's, 11:00am @ St. Mary's

8:30pm - Easter Vigil @ Holy Child, join us as we welcome our newest parishioners. Reception to follow in Holy Child Gym!

Sunday, April 4th - Easter Sunday
Masses:
8:00am - Holy Child
8:30am - St. Mary's
9:30am - St. Barbara's
10:30am - St. Mary's
11:00am - Holy Child
12:00pm - St. Barbara's

All I Remembered

The Gospel on Palm Sunday, like Good Friday, is a reading of the Passion of Christ. But unlike the Gospel every other day of the year, it is an interactive one; meaning, there are parts to "play". The priest reads the words of Jesus Christ, the Lector is the Narrator, the Deacon or another Lector is the Voice (like Pontius Pilate or Peter) and the Congregation is the Crowd. Since childhood, each year I stand at Mass with the missal in hand and follow along, confidently speaking out the "crowd" parts at the correct time.

This year was different. We have no missals in church because of the pandemic, and without a missal in my hands, I was a little lost. I had no problem following along with the story, but I wasn't sure when the crowd was supposed to speak out. I tentatively and somewhat jumbled along when I thought I was supposed to speak. But then we arrived at the moment in the Gospel when Pontius Pilate asks “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?”

There was no hesitation, no doubt in my mind, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do - I was to shout "Crucify him!"

I broke down on the inside...I was both humbled and devasted that all that I remembered certainly of my part were the words "Crucify Him"!

As the Mass continued, I threw myself on the mercy of God. I am a sinner. I am prideful, judgemental, envious, lack patience, compassion and understanding. I am weak and lazy and all too readily make excuses for myself...with each of those actions, thoughts and oversights, I daily shout "Crucify Him!"

Yet, Jesus died for me. He willingly took the cross, endured all of the pain and suffering, went to death and breathed His last...for me! Yes, I am a sinner, but I have a SAVIOR! and I have been REDEEMED! I may have only remembered certain words that day, but I will always remember for certain that it is LOVE that saves me.

We Celebrate! Living Liturgically!

As the week progresses, try to make home-life simpler in nature. Maybe omit desserts or second helpings at mealtime. Turn off the television or music. Encourage everyone in the family to spend some quiet time each day in prayer. For little ones, this might mean sitting with mom or dad and reading a bible story or simply saying an Our Father. Middle grade children could read a bible story on their own and journal, or write a letter to Jesus. Teens and older kids can pray a rosary themselves or read scripture or other sacred texts for 15-20 minutes.

Spy Wednesday: as it's traditionally called. It's definitely not something to celebrate - the betrayal of a friend. Spend some quiet time reflecting today and help your family to begin looking toward the Triduum (the three days), which begin tomorrow evening.Today we continue intensify our Lenten practices of Prayer - Fasting - Almsgivingto prepare our hearts and homes for the joy of Easter!

Today, pray for the grace to be able to give your sins to Jesus. He wants to take them from you! If you didn't have a chance yet, go to confession before Easter.
As a family, take time to apologize to one another for the ways that we hurt one another. Say the words "I am sorry for..." and then the other person can respond "I forgive you!" Take time to hug it out too!
You may choose to begin preparations for Easter today, so as to free yourself/family up to participate in the Liturgies over the next three days: color eggs, bake bread, clean the house pull out the Easter clothes etc.
Our family will begin making and decorating signs that we'll hang in our windows for the Easter season (He is Risen! Alleluia! etc.)
For younger families a fun activity on this rainy is to hide 30 quarters around the house and go on a hunt for them as you read and discuss the Gospel. This idea come from Catholic All Year.

Holy Thursday: With the start of Mass this evening Lent will end and the Triduum will begin. Triduum literally means "three days", and this is the Liturgical season that encompasses Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. This is the holiest time of year for us as Catholic Christians, and I pray that you are able to enter into the mysteries, pain, and glory of these days. Some ideas to mark this day:

Come to Mass! The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our life as Catholic Christians, spend some time today meditating on this truth. Read the institution narratives in the Gospels. Ask yourself and your kids - do you believe that the Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus Christ? If yes, talk about it and Thank God! If no, why, what questions do you have? Ask us - we're here to help! Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.
Eucharist literally means Thanksgiving - as a family make a list of things you are Thankful for this week - gratitude is a pathway to peace!
Your family could imitate Christ's actions at the Last Supper by washing one another's feet (or symbolically washing feet by pouring a small amount of water - no need for soap or loofahs!). A fun activity for children and a way for the whole family to humbly recognize their loving service to one another!
Jesus asked his disciples to "stay and watch and pray" with him. All of our churches will be open until 11:00pm. Come and spend some time with the Lord.
Pray the Rosary.
Pray for our priests - this day marks the Institution of the Priesthood as well as the Institution of the Eucharist, our priests are missing us as much as we're missing them! Reach out to priests you know. Have your kids make them cards of encouragement.

Good Friday: Join us today at 1:30pm for Good Friday Services. There will be no Mass celebrated today. Mass is never celebrated on Good Friday, anywhere in the world, ever. It's the day we step back and acknowledge the incredible Suffering and Passion of the Lord. But we never lose sight of the Resurrection! Don't let Satan steal your joy! Some ideas to mark this day:

Attend the Service @ 1:30pm or the Tenebrae at 8:00pm
This is a day of fasting and abstinence. Abstain from eating meat. Eat only 1 full meal and 2 smaller meals and nothing in-between meals.
Our family limits all media today and between the hours of 12p-3p tries to maintain silence (as best we can with 5 kids!)
Venerate the Cross together - take a crucifix (any size is fine) and have each member of the family kiss the crucifix with a prayer to console Jesus.
Pray the Rosary together - the Sorrowful Mysteries today.
Pray the Stations of the Cross: Watch the live-stream recording on our Facebook page. Here's a good resource from The Word Among us for the prayers: or these gorgeous online ones or here are some outdoor Stations of the Cross in the Pittsburgh area that your family could make a little pilgrimage to today.
1. Our very own St. Mary's Church has some in the cemetery, up from the parking lot.
2. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
3. Seton La Salle High School
4. The Spiritan Retreat Center
5. Aquinas Academy
6. The Ark and the Dove
Pray for the dying, especially those who have no one to pray for them. Ask St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of the Dying, to be with all those who will die alone today.
Following services, our family is planning to go to the cemetery and pray for the dead, especially our family members.
Make some Hot Cross Buns! These are a traditional food for today. Catholic Culture has seven different recipes (choose the drop down menu on the recipes on the right hand side). Maybe your grandma or older family member has their own, call her today to find out!

Holy Saturday: There is no morning Mass today, we wait, in liturgical silence, until the Easter Vigil tonight. Join us at 8:30pm. Think about the first Holy Saturday...how lost they must've all felt, how sad, how very very sad. For the faithful Jews that they were, they would've turned to their tradition. It was the Sabbath and they knew what to do on the Sabbath. They knew the prayers to pray, the food to make the ritual actions to perform. When nothing made sense, they returned to the familiar. You and I must keep our goal in focus always.. God is calling us to JOY. He is calling us back to the familiar; those prayers we memorized long ago, those stories of Hope and Love that have been told throughout the ages.
Some ideas to mark this day:

blessing of the Easter baskets. Bring the food your family will enjoy on Easter to be blessed!
Color Easter eggs - if you haven't already, but be sure to explain the significance of eggs at Easter. They symbolize New Life! Once we've colored our eggs, we'll use the Resurrection Eggs to discuss the Easter story. If you don't have a set, here is a great DIY one.
As you prepare your home for the Easter Feast, talk with your family about the true Joy of the Resurrection.