Church of St.

Alphonsus (Novena Church) 300 Thomson Road Singapore 307653 Tel: 6255 2133 Fax: 6251 8508, 6356 9910 Website: http://www.cssr.org.sg Letters to Our Lady: novenaltrs@cssr.org.sg

At Novena Church
Society of St Vincent de Paul There will be a second collection on Sunday, 1st April 2012. The collection is for the poor and needy of the society. Please give your generous support. Ladies Confraternity There will be a meeting on Sunday, 1st April at 4.30pm in the Church. Church Car Park The Upper lawn car park will be closed on Monday, 2nd April to Monday, 9th April 2012. Paid parking is available at Novena Square, Square 2 and United Square. Car Park Wardens will be on duty to direct the traffic, please give them your co-operation. Holy Week There will be No Penitential Service. Additional Confessors will be available during the Holy Week (MondayWednesday). Confession will be at 11.30am and 5.45pm (45 minutes before Mass). Maundy Thursday, 5th April 2012 Good Friday, 6th April 2012 Holy Saturday, 7th April 2012 Easter Sunday, 8th April 2012 Mass at 7.00pm Compline (Night Prayer) at 12am Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 10am followed by Passion Play 3.00pm Good Friday Service Vigil at 8.00pm (No Novena Devotion) Mass at 7am, 9am, 5.30pm (English) and 11am (Tagalog)

Palm SundayYear B
Masses
Monday-Friday Saturday Sunday 2 & 4 Sunday
nd th

6.30am, 12.15pm (Lunch-Time Mass) & 6.30pm (Public HolidayMasses are at 8.00am & 6.30pm) 7.00am 7.00am, 9.00am & 5.30pm 11.00am Filipino & Migrant Communities

Devotion in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Saturday 9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am (English) 1.00pm, 2.00pm (English) 3.00pm (Mandarin) 4.00pm, 5.00pm, 6.00pm & 7.00pm (English)

Readings & Responses for the Week

Mon Tue Wed 2nd Apr 3rd Apr 4th Apr Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11 The Lord is my light and my help. Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33,36-38 My lips will tell of your help. Is 50:4-9; Mt 26:14-25 In your great love, O Lord, answer my prayer for your favour. Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 (Maundy Thursday) The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ. Is 52:13-53,12; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19,42 (Good Friday) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Gen 1:1-2:2; Gen 22:1-18; Ex 14, 1515,1; Is 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15,324,4; Ez 36:16-28; Rom 6:3-11; Mk 16:1-8

Thu

5th Apr

Fri Sat

6th Apr 7th Apr

Chrism Mass The Chrism Mass will be held at the Church of The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary, 1259 Upper Serangoon Road. Mass will be at 10.30am on Maundy Thursday, 5th April 2012. Holy Thursday, 5th April 2012 Collection in support of the Holy Land. Schools and parishes are signs of peace and hope. Because of the special challenges that Christians face in the Holy Land, many families emigrate in search of better life. The church in the Holy Land provides housing and other assistance to encourage the Christians to stay. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - English Program 2012/2013 Inviting all non-Catholics aged 18 years old and above. For those who are interested in knowing more about our faith and the Catholic Church. Program commence on Monday, 2nd July or Tuesday, 3rd July (specify the day of your choice) Time: 7.30pm9.45pm. Forms are available at the Church Reception. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - Mandarin Program 2012/2013 New class will commence on Saturday, 9th June 2012 at 3.45pm in Peter Donders room. Application forms can be obtained from the Church Reception. Redemptorist Parish Mission We are conducting a Parish Mission at Church of the Divine Mercy, 19 Pasir Ris, St. 72 which started on Monday, 30th January and ends first week of June. We seek your intercessory prayers for Gods blessings upon all missioners and parishioners. Redevelopment of Novena Church and its Pastoral Centre Please make your cheque contribution payable to Novena Church Building Fund. You can also place your contribution in the existing box at St Josephs Shrine. Please Take Note: No one is authorized to collect donations on our behalf. Latest update: *** Contribution via Visa, Mastercard and GIRO are available. Forms for GIRO deduction is available at the Church Reception. *** Gala Dinner on Saturday 28th July 2012 at Mandarin Orchard HotelPer Table (10 seats) at $6,000/- and $10,000/- . Booking forms available at the Church Reception.

Holy Week: Our Journey with Jesus

Holy Week, the most sacred time of the Churchs calendar begins with Palm Sunday and this beautiful service begins with a procession. Processions are (and in the past even more so) a common expression of Catholic spirituality. Crowds walked through the streets and neighbourhood praying or singing, carrying the statue of a patron saint, the Blessed Sacrament and on Palm Sunday, palms. The procession was a sign of the presence of faith. But they are not simply a show of numbers, presence or even triumphalism. Processions are symbolic of the journey. Jesus and the disciples undertook a journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of the Passover. Perhaps some of the disciples even thought that the hour had come for Jesus to establish the Kingdom of God. But this journey, which would turn out to be Jesus last on earth, was to be full of twists and turns, more than they had bargained for. Take up your cross and follow me, says Jesus, and as we begin Holy Week, we begin a journey with Jesus, a journey to the cross, a culmination of our observance of the season of Lent. Through fasting and penance, we have tried to take away distractions in our lives that keep us from focusing on God. This is the only time that two Gospels are read in the one mass and they are so contrasting. The crowds welcome Jesus into Jerusalem like a national hero and king, at the end, they drive him out of the city like a criminal. Throughout, as others go with the flow and retract their promises, Jesus remains congruent and honest, he refuses to compromise his identity, his values and his message at any cost, even death. The second reading from Philippians, is known as the Kenosis hymn. Kenosis in Greek means to empty, to pour out. Jesus though he was God, humbled himself to experience all the suffering and misery of humanity. Denial, betrayal, abandonment, torture and death. As we make this journey with Jesus, it is a journey that we do not take alone. We are in solidarity with all people who continue to suffer in the world today, just as Jesus was in solidarity with them. The poor, the oppressed and suffering, like Jesus, continue to cry, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Because he remained faithful to God, Jesus death was turned by his Father into a sign of hope for those who continue to suffer. Jesus has been exalted because he humbled himself and submitted to Gods will. Just as the Father raised Jesus, he will also raise them.

Fr Gerard Louis, CSsR