Blog

Dear parishioners.

On Sunday, June 29th in the evening, the second round of elections for the Pastoral Council will conclude. Don’t forget to submit your ballots. Thank you. Fr. Jan

We originally planned our parish pilgrimage to Italy for the free days in May from the 1st to the 8th. You correctly suspect that if we had traveled during this period, the election of a new pope would have slipped by us by a day.

This year, Father Jenda celebrated his 35th birthday in April, and in a few days, the parish vicar Vít Horák will celebrate his 56th birthday.

The visit of Bishop Derek from India took place on Monday, April 28. We were able to meet with him beforehand during a holy mass at the deanery while discussing life in his diocese and the activities of Charity. At 6:00 PM, we celebrated holy mass with him, during which there was also a communal administration of the sacrament of the sick.

On Sunday, April 27th, nearly 40 young people from the vicarages of Ústí and Litomyšl gathered in Ústí nad Orlicí to experience a day dedicated to the Jubilee of Teenagers, proclaimed by Pope Francis as part of the Holy Year 2025.

The Cecil Music Association is slowly closing the chapter on the National Pilgrimage to Rome, which it opened in June 2024, and once again THANKS everyone who contributed directly or indirectly to the performance during the National Pilgrimage in Rome 2025. On Saturday, April 26, the choir gathered for a joint meeting. On this occasion, we wished Jenda a happy birthday and as a gift, to express our gratitude for accompanying us on the pilgrimage, we presented him with the photo album "Pilgrim's Guide."

We gathered to celebrate the Easter Vigil on Sunday, April 20, early in the morning still in darkness.

On Good Friday evening, we traditionally gather for the Stations of the Cross prayer at the chapels on Andrlův chlum. Even the heavy rain this year did not stop us, and many parishioners, along with their children, eagerly carried the cross and torches to the communal prayer.

During the Good Friday services (April 18), we reflect on the crucifixion of our Lord, honor the cross, and pray for all people. The priest, as a sign of humility, lies before the altar (in what is called prostration) and silently asks for forgiveness for his sins as well as ours.

On Maundy Thursday (April 17th), the Easter Triduum began. During the evening Mass, we remember Jesus' Last Supper with his apostles, his call to follow him in service through the foot washing ceremony, and Jesus' departure to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was betrayed by Judas.

On Palm Sunday, we entered Holy Week. The liturgy of Palm Sunday (April 13) commemorating the glorious entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem began in the park at the church by the chapel of St. John Paul II.

We returned from the National Pilgrimage in Rome...

During the Lenten season, there was an intensified preparation of our catechumens for baptism. For three Lenten Sundays, we were able to witness prayers over them during the Holy Mass, known as scrutinies.

From Friday, March 21st to Saturday, the rectory transformed into an impregnable fortress. This was because our young people prepared an overnight stay for the kids from the 1st grade and up.

On Saturday, March 22, the first pastoral fair took place in Hradec Králové.