Dear St. Raphael School Families and Friends,
Next Sunday, we will celebrate Palm Sunday as the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorate the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before He was crucified. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of Him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect. Palm branches are widely recognized as a symbol of peace and victory, hence their preferred use on Palm Sunday. The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, representing the humble arrival of someone in peace, as opposed to arriving on a steed in war.
Next week is Holy Week. We will enter into the week prayerfully and reverently. Please join us on Holy Thursday in the Parish Hall at 11:00 am for a prayer service. It's a beautiful day where we honor Jesus and His sacrifice for us. Remember that students are dismissed at noon on Holy Thursday.
Just a reminder that every Friday during Lent, we are selling $5 grilled cheese sandwiches served with fruit and milk, and includes a side of vegetables or a cup of soup. You can also purchase tortilla chips with homemade salsa for $2. Please make sure to send your child/ren to school with money for lunch as funds will not come out of your child’s food truck account. These lunches will help offset the cost of our overnight trips for grades 5-8. Remember you can always come for a grilled cheese sandwich, too! Lunch is served from 12 - 12:30 pm.
Important Dates:
April 9: Talent Show at 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall
April 12: Stations of the Cross at 1:15 pm
April 15: Jeans for Jesus
April 18: Holy Thursday Prayer Service at 11:00 am. Noon Dismissal
April 19-28: Easter Vacation
April 29: School Resumes
Station Thirteen: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross | Station Fourteen: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb |
Sabbath was rapidly approaching and the crucified ones had to be taken down before the beginning of the Sabbath celebrations. A soldier pierced the side of Jesus with his spear to be sure that he was dead. Mary stayed under the cross with her Son. Jesus was gently removed from the cross. Mary held Jesus. She didn't want to give Him up but she had to. She kissed Him and gave Him to the guards. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be | People had returned to their homes for the Sabbath. John, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Mary, went from Calvary to Jesus' burial tomb. Joseph and John carried Jesus into the tomb. They laid him on the rock bench in the burial chamber. The men moved a big boulder in front of the entrance to block it. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be |
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