a holy week to remember
Photos by David Ziser
God’s grace is always abundant, especially at Mother of God Church. Never was that more evident than this past Holy Week.
It started off innocently enough with a moving Palm Sunday liturgy and reading of the Passion. We had good crowds and Fr. Mike Comer opted to do the preliminary reading of the Triumphal Entry from the back of church instead of across the street because of the cold weather. A wise move—after all, no need to risk anyone getting sick during the most sacred time of the year.
On Holy Thursday, friends gathered in the church hall for the annual meal hosted by Parish Council. Before Fr. Mike offered the blessing, he advised the musicians that he wasn’t feeling well—he had a bad cold that might be bronchitis—so there would be no washing of the feet at the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Okay, so that eliminated two songs, but otherwise, the service would go on as usual.
But during the course of the meal, as Fr. Mike explained, he began to feel confused and unable to find the right words to express himself. It soon became apparent that he needed immediate medical attention. But he was very concerned about the upcoming liturgy and how it could continue without a priest.
Not to worry. The Holy Spirit was already on it—first by surrounding Fr. Mike with clinically astute parishioners who recognized what was happening and got him to the Emergency Room as quickly as possible, and second, by guiding parish staff in leading a liturgy that, while not a Mass, was still prayerful and honored the intent of the Triduum.
God’s blessings continued in the form of Fr. Jim Schaeper who graciously stepped in to celebrate the rest of the Triduum and Easter liturgies. And most importantly, that grace culminated in Fr. Mike’s release from the hospital on Monday evening with no lasting effects from the minor stroke he suffered. Our joy in the Resurrection is made even more complete knowing our pastor is back home and on a healing path.
Keep scrolling for photos of Easter and Holy Week.
It started off innocently enough with a moving Palm Sunday liturgy and reading of the Passion. We had good crowds and Fr. Mike Comer opted to do the preliminary reading of the Triumphal Entry from the back of church instead of across the street because of the cold weather. A wise move—after all, no need to risk anyone getting sick during the most sacred time of the year.
On Holy Thursday, friends gathered in the church hall for the annual meal hosted by Parish Council. Before Fr. Mike offered the blessing, he advised the musicians that he wasn’t feeling well—he had a bad cold that might be bronchitis—so there would be no washing of the feet at the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Okay, so that eliminated two songs, but otherwise, the service would go on as usual.
But during the course of the meal, as Fr. Mike explained, he began to feel confused and unable to find the right words to express himself. It soon became apparent that he needed immediate medical attention. But he was very concerned about the upcoming liturgy and how it could continue without a priest.
Not to worry. The Holy Spirit was already on it—first by surrounding Fr. Mike with clinically astute parishioners who recognized what was happening and got him to the Emergency Room as quickly as possible, and second, by guiding parish staff in leading a liturgy that, while not a Mass, was still prayerful and honored the intent of the Triduum.
God’s blessings continued in the form of Fr. Jim Schaeper who graciously stepped in to celebrate the rest of the Triduum and Easter liturgies. And most importantly, that grace culminated in Fr. Mike’s release from the hospital on Monday evening with no lasting effects from the minor stroke he suffered. Our joy in the Resurrection is made even more complete knowing our pastor is back home and on a healing path.
Keep scrolling for photos of Easter and Holy Week.
