Blessings to all of you, our parishioners in Sequim and Port Angeles, as we begin this Holy Week.

Never in my lifetime have we been in this situation where Holy Week will be celebrated in our homes because we are unable to gather in His name at church! It has happened before in our history as a Church, during war, disease, famine and persecution. In times past, we have not only survived but we have been strengthened in our faith and have grown in our relationship with the Lord.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage each and every one of you to enter deeply into the mysteries of this Holy Week. How? By taking time to gather spiritually, as a family, to celebrate these sacred mysteries. Since we cannot come together at the parishes as communities of faith, I ask you to join Fr. Leonardo and myself remotely as we live-stream the Holy Week liturgies. You will be able to access each of them live via the website on their respective days.

We are not simply observers of these holy days, but rather, we are participants! There will be some changes to the liturgies, as decreed by the Holy Father Pope Francis for 2020, but we WILL come together as the parishes of Clallam County to express our great gift of faith. Please plan to join us from home [at the specified times]…

This Holy Week and our Easter celebrations will demonstrate our faith that out of the ashes of Lent there is new life in the Resurrection of the Lord. Let’s celebrate the reality that we are united, that we are family, that we are people of true faith!

Alleluia and may we all have a blessed Easter as we continue to pray for one another and for an end of this COVID-19 disaster.

Fr. Dennis Robb

Dear QA and SJ parishioners,

Christ’s peace!

If you click the button above on the right, you will find a special Holy Week edition of the parish bulletin. Please open the attachment and read the bulletin! It is beautifully done….And, there is a letter from our pastor inside!

As you know, this is an unprecedented time in many ways. But just because we have been ordered to stay home doesn’t mean we can’t “be community” from home during this most holy week of the year. The churches remain closed, but we are very blessed to be able to bring the Holy Week liturgies to parishioners via live-streaming from St. Joseph Parish. (We are filming from St. Joseph Parish church because it is easier for Fr. Robb to get around in the sanctuary there.) The Archbishop has asked priests to adhere to the Governor’s requirements regarding Holy Week celebrations, and to keep these liturgies simple and in compliance with the changes for 2020 as per recent decree from the Vatican. Please see the bulletin for the full schedule and go to the website when it is time for Mass according to the schedule. We hope you’ll join us from home as we bring the liturgies to you live this coming week!

Below the livestream image above, for those interested, you will find a worship aid for use at the live-streamed Palm Sunday Mass this Sunday. Some parishioners have emailed asking if it is possible to get palms now. Due to the “Stay Home” directives, the Archbishop has asked parishes not to distribute palms at this time. Our palms will be blessed by Fr. Robb this Sunday; we will then store them for distribution at a future time when the Mass ban is lifted. Next week I will email worship aids prior to each of the Triduum liturgies for anyone who wishes to follow along with the order of the Mass and the readings. I hope people find this helpful!

Also, thank you to those who have sent in your contributions to the parishes. We are so very grateful. Please remember that your continued contribution (tithe) to the parish is especially helpful in maintaining parish operations and buildings as we continue to serve our parishioner needs. Thank you for your generosity!

Know that every day I’m praying for all of you, and I know that Fr. Robb and Fr. Leonardo are as well. May the coming week give each of us an opportunity to draw nearer to the Lord than ever before.

God bless each and every one of you, and have a very holy week,
Cathy