Friday, March 21, 2008

A Word on the Word for Good Friday the Celebration of the Lord's Passion 2008

To listen click here.

Peace be with you. This is A Word on the Word recorded live at Saint Gregory the Great, the Diocese of Bridgeport - Connecticut USA. Our pastor is Father Angelo Arrando. For Good Friday we have an edited version of the Service from Saint Gregory the Great. We are so glad you could join us today.

According to Church tradition Mass is not celebrated today, instead we have the liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion.

The readings for Good Friday the Celebration of the Lord's Passion are from the prophet Isaiah, the letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel according to John.

Today's Homily tells us:
  • Today is a celebration
  • We all know pain, emotional and physical,
  • So we can imagine the pain Jesus went through on the cross.
  • Why would Jesus go through that pain?
  • Out of love for us.
  • We gather this afternoon to remember how much He loved us.
  • The cross is a sign of that love.
  • As we remember Jesus also remember those who suffer today.
  • We called to carry our cross every day and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Our music this day is lead by the Saint Gregory the Great choir. It includes the spiritual Were you There.

A special collection for the preservation of the Holy Land was collected.

Recorded at Saint Gregory the Great - Danbury, Connecticut Thursday March 21, 2008, that's A Word on the Word for Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. This NetCast is released under a Creative Commons license, some rights are reserved.

Thank you for joining us.

A Word on the Word Executive producer is Father Angelo Arrando, and is produced by Gregory, Bruce and his wife Patti. Please let us know what you think. If you have questions or answers, we want to include your comments.
On behalf of Saint Gregory the Great parish, God bless and Peace be With you.

A Word on the Word for Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's supper 2008

Click here to Listen

Peace be with you. This is A Word on the Word recorded live at Saint Gregory the Great, the Diocese of Bridgeport - Connecticut USA. Our pastor is Father Angelo Arrando. For Holy Thursday we have the Homily and music from the choir of Saint Gregory the Great.


The readings for Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's supper are from Exodus, the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians and the Gospel according to John.


Father Phil's message can be heard here:

  • Jesus is aware that something bigger was about to happen.
  • He demonstrated He was the real lamb. His body and blood was to be given for our life.
  • Washing the feet is to offer a great hospitality to a friend, to refresh their spirit
  • In Creation God made man and put His spirit in it.
  • The sin of Adam rejected that spirit and with Jesus the spirit was re-introduced.
  • This celebration is new each year because we are different each year.
  • God is in you to take care of you.


Our music this day is the My Tongue, The Savior's Glory lead by the Saint Gregory the Great choir.

Well that's A Word on the Word for Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's supper. This NetCast is released under a Creative Commons license, some rights are reserved.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

A Word on the Word for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion 2008

To Listen click Here.

Peace Be With You. This week please pray for victims of the Iraqi Conflict, victims of terrorists and all sick and deceased members of the parish. At the CROSSROAD, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion; Suffering with integrity, obedience and humility. Our prayer this week is for a Prayer at the Blessing of the Branches from The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion are from the prophet Isaiah, the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians the Gospel and Passion according to Matthew. To hear them click on our link to the the left. Unfortunately we were unable to record the Homily today.

News
The Saint Gregory the Great Bulletin
The News from Vatican radio


The CROSSROAD Message

We come to the Crossroad and find when Jesus, humbled Himself out of love for us, He did not shield His face from buffets and spitting. He instead offered His life on the cross, always relying on His Father’s love. So we ask Adults & Teens: How will I imitate the obedience and humility of Christ during this Holy Week? And Children: What sacrifice can I make this week that will help others?
Today is the last Sunday of Lent. Remember the promises we made on Ash Wednesday-all our good intentions for prayer, fasting and alms giving. How well have we done? Has our attitude changed; have we grown in God’s goodness; are we better equipped to spread the words and works of Jesus?
As we listen to today’s Gospel on the passion and death of Jesus, let’s ask ourselves what kind of attitude did Jesus have? All of our readings today offer vivid pictures of Christ’s attitude and His refusal to become the helpless victim. His determination to complete His mission shines through for us to see and emulate. He was teaching us-right up to the last moment. He gives us an example of solidarity with the Father, of trust and hope for our own salvation.
Jesus was nourished and sustained during His ordeals by prayer and trust in His Father-and so, we too, have prayed our way to this day. Jesus could do what God asked of Him because He emptied Himself-He let go of everything. Letting go is what our personal fasting and alms giving have been about-and today we stand empty-ready to be filled and nourished by Christ’s Body and Blood.
Reflect on the Gospel passage you heard at Mass. What image stays in your mind? Think of the various people in this drama (Peter, Judas, Pilate and the others). In what way can you identify with them? What can you learn about how you react to your own suffering from the example of the suffering of Jesus? Are you able to believe that “Jesus Died for ME!”
As our journey to the Easter Resurrection unfolds this week, let us continue to reflect on our personal journey in following Jesus. Take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Participate in the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Awake to the joy of all that our loving God has done for us.


The music is from Mangroovia. Located in Italy the music of the Mangroovia is exclusively instrumental. Find this and more at GarageBand.com.

Prayer at the Blessing of the Branches
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

O Lord our God, Who sits upon the Cherubim, You have reaffirmed Your power by sending Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world through His cross, burial and resurrection.
When He came into Jerusalem to suffer His voluntary passion, the people that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death took boughs of trees and branches of palms as signs of victory, thus foretelling His Resurrection. Do You, Yourself, O Master, keep and preserve us who, in imitation of them, carry palms and branches in our hands.
As we join the crowds and the children who sang Hosanna to You, may we, with hymns and spiritual songs, attain the life-giving resurrection of the third day.


Well that's A Word on the Word for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This NetCast is released under a Creative Commons license, some rights are reserved.