Hello, St. Clement parishioners & friends!
This weekend we will celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, the beginning of Holy Week. At the 5pm and 8am Masses, we will begin the liturgy in the church. At 10:30 and noon Masses, we will begin in the Marian Center and process into the church. Palms will be blessed and distributed at all Masses that weekend.
*As a sort of “heads up,” incense will be in use at some of the liturgies of Holy Week.
The Use and Significance of Palms
Crafting with holy palms is a meaningful tradition rooted in the Christian faith, especially among Catholic and Orthodox communities. It is a way for the faithful to extend the spiritual significance of Palm Sunday into their daily lives.
1. Biblical Roots of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19). The crowds laid palm branches before Him, shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The palms symbolize victory, peace, and Christ’s kingship.
2. The Tradition of Blessed Palms
After Palm Sunday Mass, the distributed palms are considered sacramentals, meaning they are blessed and should be treated with reverence. Many believers take them home, using them as reminders of their faith and Christ’s journey to the cross.
3. Crafting Sacred Symbols
Many families and church communities weave palm fronds into various religious symbols:
- Crosses – Representing Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
- Crowns – Reminding us of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head.
These crafted symbols are often displayed in homes, placed near crucifixes, or kept in prayer spaces until the following Ash Wednesday when they are traditionally burned to make ashes for the next Lent.
Since blessed palms should not be discarded in the trash, they are usually returned to the church to be burned and used for Ash Wednesday the following year. This cycle symbolizes the connection between Christ’s triumph (Palm Sunday) and our repentance (Lent).
On Palm Sunday, hand-crafted palm crucifixes like these pictured will be on sale for $10 each. This is separate from the distribution of palms at the Masses.
Calendar Notes:
- This Sunday 13 Apr: Youth Group outing – dinner & Tenebrae at Holy Family Cathedral
- Tuesday 15 Apr: Please pray for the priests of our diocese as they gather for their Lenten Day of Prayer before the Chrism Mass at which they will renew their priestly promises.
- Sunday 20 Apr: Easter egg hunt for all children ages toddler through 11 after the 10:30 Mass. Bring your Easter baskets!
- Sunday 27 Apr: last Sunday catechism classes
- Sunday 27 Apr at 1pm: First Holy Communion Retreat
- Sunday 4 May: First Holy Communion at 10:30 Mass in English and 1:30pm in Spanish
Our Outreach Ministry is seeking applicants for its Commodity Supplemental Food Program. This is separate from our regular food pantry. If you are 60 years of age or older and would like to apply for assistance, contact the parish office or Outreach staff to see if you meet the financial guidelines.
🕯️ Oremus pro invicem
Let us pray together for these loved ones, all those who have no one to pray for them, and each other:
- Our Holy Father, Pope Francis
- Dave Paulson
- Amanda Dentist
- James S
- Geovanny
- Paul
- Vickey Nash
- all those preparing to receive sacraments soon and their catechists, sponsors, and families
- the sick and suffering of our parish & our loved ones and those who love and care for them
- the holy souls in purgatory, all those near death, and all who are grieving
- all those listed in our book of prayer intentions
We invite folks to send names (first only are fine!) to include on a list of people for whom to pray, such as the sick and suffering of our parish. If you’d like to add a name to the prayer list (yours or someone else’s *with their permission), please email that info to Bonnie at music@stcbixby.org. If anyone should be removed from the list above, please let Bonnie know.