Thursday of Holy Week

April 2, 2026

GOSPEL MEDITATION

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gathers with his chosen twelve at the climax of his life and does something so strange that we still wonder at it two thousand years later: He takes off his outer garment, puts a towel around his waist, and begins to wash his disciples’ feet.

The nineteenth-century philosopher Hegel said that all human society, to varying degrees, is characterized by the master-slave dynamic. Long before Hegel, the great St. Augustine noticed what he called the libido dominandi, the “lust to dominate,” as the mark of a dysfunctional society. Long before Augustine, the authors of the Old Testament were also interested in this problem, because the central story of the Scriptures is that of slavery and liberation from slavery—the Passover event.

But we see now in John’s Gospel how the distinctive mark of Jesus’s kingdom is precisely the overturning of the master-slave dynamic. Jesus bends down to do the work that was so lowly and, frankly, gross that only the lowest of the slaves were expected to do it, and he says, “As I have done for you, you should also do.” And what does he do later at the same supper? He gives himself away entirely in the Eucharist: “This is my body, which will be given for you.”

It is into this new dynamic that we are invited by Jesus: the washing of the feet, the giving away of body and blood
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

“Reproductive rights’ has long been a euphemism for destroying human life in the womb… A phrase that sounds like empowerment is really only code for the subjugation of preborn children.”
- Lila Rose, founder and president of the pro-life group Live Action

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

We begin this Holy Week with the reading of the Lord’s Passion from the Gospel of Matthew. It is fitting that we Christian stewards focus our minds and hearts intensely this week on the steps of our Brother and Savior as He laid down His very life for us.

Throughout this story, there are several small acts of stewardship by those who encountered Jesus during this most eventful week. Each of these were simple acts of good stewardship, yet God used them in mighty ways. God invites each of us, too, to cooperate with Him in small ways through the sharing of our time, talents and material gifts. Small gifts can become mighty deeds when placed in God’s service.

A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

The cruel death of Jesus tells us bad things can and do happen to very good people. It also tells us God is present during the suffering. Bad things happen but God does not abandon us.
- Bud Ozar

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are inviting all youth and adults who would like to be trained for service as an altar server, lector or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, especially for the 12noon mass. Please contact the parish office at 814-943-8553 if you are interested and a training session will be scheduled for you.

Prayer Requests

Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Joe DeGennaro Jr., Colette DiMemmo, Margaret Dodson, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Paul Dunmire, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Roberta Farabaugh, Herman Frederick, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Carol Keagy, Russell Keith, John Kleine, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, Beth Lloyd, Joan Maier, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Kevin O'Rourke, Lucille Parker, Sarah Rihnovich, Nancy Servello, Elizabeth Siglow, Laura Snyder, Bill stauffer, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Joan Weston, Renee Williams, Mikayla Yanchik, Pat Zeak.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church