Palm Sunday. March 28, 2021. Cvetna Nedelja.

The beautiful Slovenian tradition on Palm Sunday (Cvetna Nedelja in Slovenian) is the creating of “butare.” It is a tradition for Slovenians around the world that bring olive branches or other greenery and elaborately crafted colorful “butare” to churches and are blessed by a priest before being taken back home. This tradition of carrying these substitute palms often gather for processions outside of churches or passing through villages before attending Mass. The palm branches that the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem represent His triumph. The greenery stands for fertility and life while the olive branch is a symbol of peace and conciliation. In many parts of the Republic of Slovenia, “butare” are often made of dyed shavings of wood, bound around branches of various trees or shrubs. They sometimes have fruit such as oranges bound into them. St. Vitus Slovenian Saturday language School continues the tradition of making individual “butare” that are then carried into church. With good weather, the “butare” are blessed in the parish rectory court-yard and then the priest and congregants process and carry their individual “butare” into the church.

Mass schedule for Palm Sunday weekend is: March 27, 2021: Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00PM; and March 28, 2021: Sunday Masses at 9:00AM and 10:30AM.

In gratitude to all parishioners, friends, benefactors, parish organizations, fraternal lodges/branches, and businesses who have donated to date toward the construction of the new parish hall, located directly across the street from St. Vitus Church, delicious pastry, coffee, OJ, will be provided in the new parish hall AFTER the weekend Masses on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to all who have so far supported this unique project. And see the work in progress. We are nearing toward completion!