Pastor's Note from Fr. Szparagowski 📝 - [Mar 27th Bulletin]

Dear St. Philip Neri Family and Friends,

We give praise and thanks to God for the graces and blessings He has given us.

Today we begin the most sacred week of the Church’s year—Holy Week.

We start with joy: palms in our hands, voices lifted high, echoing the crowd in Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It is a moment of triumph.

Jesus enters the city not as a warrior king, but humbly, riding on a donkey. The people welcome Him with hope, expectation, even excitement. They believe He will save them.

But then—everything changes.

Only moments later in the Gospel, the same voices cry out: “Crucify Him!”

This dramatic shift invites us to reflect deeply:

How can the same crowd move from praise to rejection so quickly?

It is easy to judge the people of Jerusalem, but if we are honest, we recognize something uncomfortable: That same contradiction exists within each of us.

There are moments when we proclaim Jesus as Lord—when we pray, attend Mass, and strive to live our faith.

But there are also moments when we turn away—through sin, indifference, or silence when we should speak truth. We, too, can welcome Christ on Sunday…and forget Him by Monday.

The Passion reminds us that Jesus is not the kind of king the world expects.

He does not conquer through force, but through love.

He does not rule from a throne of gold, but from the wood of the Cross.

In the suffering of Christ, we see:

• His obedience to the Father
• His mercy toward sinners
• His total self-gift for our salvation

Even in His agony, Jesus forgives:

“Father, forgive them…”

Even in death, He gives life.

Palm Sunday is not just something we remember—it is something we enter into.

So today, as we hold our palm branch, we should ask ourselves:

• Do I truly welcome Jesus as King in my life?
• Where do I still resist Him?
• Am I willing to follow Him—not only in moments of joy, but also in sacrifice?

Because to follow Christ means to walk the path of the Cross…trusting that it leads to Resurrection.

Let it be a sincere prayer:

“Lord, save me. Stay with me. Lead me.”

May we not be a people who praise Him one moment and abandon Him the next, but disciples who remain faithful—from the waving of palms to the silence of the tomb and into the glory of Easter morning.

“We adore Christ and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Please invite someone to Mass today.

St. Philip Neri, pray for us.

Have a blessed Holy Week,

Fr. Szparagowski