RCIA

RCIA or the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults is the main method adults use to become fully initiated into the Catholic Church. It is important that initiates have a full understanding of their faith and know what every practice means. The entire process lasts about nine months and details the faith with a group of initiates. The group aspect has been noted as a great benefit from those who go through RCIA. We are the Body of Christ and in that unity comes shared growth in our faithful journeys.

I had the opportunity to interview a candidate of initiation this year, Nathaniel Wetherell. When asking him about his experience, he had this to say: "It refreshed me on what I learned during my Catholic schooling." He also expressed that it was a great opportunity to "meet other people coming into the Catholic Church." He said he would "definitely recommend RCIA for anyone even curious in the faith" and that it will "answer all your questions, especially with a good group of people guiding you." "It's been a blessing" stated Wetherell.

MLB Opening Day

Here are the scores from the ‘Opening Day’ of baseball for 2024:

Angels @ Orioles (3-11) Blue Jays @ Rays (8-2)

Tigers @ White Sox (1-0) Nationals @ Reds (2-8)

Twins @ Royals (4-1)                                                          Cubs @ Rangers (3-4)

Yankees @ Astros (5-4)                                                     Guardians @ Athletics (8-0)

Pirates @ Marlins (6-5)                                                       Red Sox @ Mariners (6-4)

Giants @ Padres (4-6)                                                         Rockies @ Diamondbacks (1-16)

Cardinals @ Dodgers (1-7)                                                  Brewers @ Mets (POSTPONED)

Braves @ Phillies (POSTPONED)

As any baseball fan would admit, MLB Opening Day is one of the highlights of the year for the sports world!  There are many stories that are interesting to follow each year, and this year didn’t disappoint.  First, there are SO many players on different teams now!  It seems like every other player got traded to another team for the 2024 Season.  Another huge story line was Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani entering his 2024 campaign with the Dodgers, instead of his previous team, the Angels.  The Reds are also out for a season of redemption after missing the postseason last year by only two games!  The Rangers start their World Series repeat effort, while the Athletics try to not be an embarrassment to MLB, amidst being kicked out of town.  Regardless of how this season goes, it will be fun to follow, and exciting events will definitely take place as does happen every year!

The Sacred Triduum

Holy Week is the highest point of the liturgical year and the most solemn and joyful week in Christianity. Compared to Christmas, it is even more sacred! This is due to the fact that Holy Week honors the last week of Our Lord's life. Easter Sunday marks the conclusion of Holy Week, which started on Palm Sunday, the day Jesus made his last entry into Jerusalem.

The seriousness intensifies as Holy Week nears its conclusion. The most solemn period of the liturgical year lasts from sunset on Holy Thursday until sunset on Easter Sunday. The term Easter Triduum, which is also called the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum, refers to this three-day period. "Triduum" is derived from the Latin term triduum, which is formed by the combination of tris + dies.

The Sacred Triduum is essentially a single, grand celebration that narrates the final three days of Jesus' earthly life, including his Passion and Resurrection—the moments when the Lamb of God gave his life in order to pay the price for our sins. The reason it is called the "Paschal Mystery" is that it is the consummate realization of the ancient Jewish Passover, also known as Pasch, which commemorated the event by which God delivered the Jews from Egyptian slavery. That same evening, the destroying angel "passed over" the homes marked with the blood of the Passover Lamb, saving those covered by the blood. The lamb, which was spotless, was slain and eaten during the Passover supper. 

This was how Jesus' actions at the Last Supper were symbolized in the Old Testament. He presented himself on Calvary, the site of the sacrifice made to free us from the bonds of sin, and as the Paschal Lamb. We eat the sacrifice made to atone for our sins when we partake of the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, God's plan of salvation for the fallen human race via the suffering, death, and resurrection of the God-man Jesus Christ is known as the Paschal Mystery.