A Shave, a King Kong Zucchini and Palm Sunday

Jacob Boulus, the son one of our parishioners, participated in the "World's Greatest Shave" competition to bring awareness and collect donations for Cancer research. Teens from the school signed up to have their heads shaved for charity. Soem young ladies even donated their long locks for a group that makes wigs for kids going through therapy! Teachers coordinated the day with the Marian College's (the high school's) 30th anniversary. They invited me to be the celebrant. They also had an 80's themed all-day party.

This is Jacob in his 80's get-up: a fake moustache, shades gold chain and cowboy hat (1). The next shot is Steve (his dad, who is also a teacher at the school) with Jacob and myself before the shave (2); here is one right after the haircut (3). To be honest, I give myself a closer shave on a weekly basis!

Father Gerard grew up on a farm and likes to grow vegetables. This week he brought in a King Kong sized zucchini (4)! I think it's half the size of Fr. Gerard! Way to go! He felt proud, except he doesn't know how to cook it!

We ended the week with a Palm and Pizza party with our Youth Group (5-10). Anastasia Boulus, Jacob's older sister, is the youth leader. So full of energy (pictured on the left in 5), she was able to bring in at least 40 kids. Moms even helped! All told, the kids must have folded about 1,000 crosses!

On Saturday morning, we used the full palm fronds to decorate outside the church (11-16). They come from another parishioner's farm. It really gets you into the joyful spirit of Christ's Entry into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. Inside the church, we use live palms that will be used again throughout the Easter Season (17-20). Here's a couple of still photos of the baskets with with crosses the children made the night before (21-22). Again it helps make the kids see a connection between what they did and the church. Helps them to feel good about contributing. We also put out\ olive branches (23) as this is custom among Italian and Maltese Christians who form a part of our parish.

Finally some shots of blooms around the grounds (24-26) and a passing rainbow over our Shrine (27). Happy Holy Week!