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This week we enter into the most sacred days of the Christian calendar, Holy Week. We honor and celebrate these holy days much in the way we have for centuries. We set aside these days and celebrate each of them in a vastly unique way.
We begin with a special Palm Sunday concert at 4 p.m. presented by the choir entitled “The Lenten Sketches.”
In song, artwork and scripture, the choir sings of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, His institution of the Eucharist, His Crucifixion and Mary’s sorrow and anguish as she holds the body of Jesus for the last time. A beautiful way to begin Holy Week.
Holy Thursday, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, will begin at 7 p.m. and will include the reception of new Holy Oils, blessed by our new archbishop earlier in the week, along with the traditional washing of feet and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The priest and deacon will wash the feet of members of our Partners in Mercy who will be acting as the symbolic twelve. The priest will then encourage the congregation to participate, washing each other’s feet as we have in the past. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be moved to the Memorial Chapel for silent prayer and devotion until 10 p.m.
Good Friday will begin at Noon with Living Stations of the Cross lead by the youth of our parish. At 1 p.m. the celebration of the Lord’s Passion will begin with the reading of the Passion Gospel and Veneration of the cross. When you approach the cross, make a profound bow from the waist, say a short prayer if you wish, and then return to your pew. Communion will be distributed as usual from the reserved sacrament.
The Easter Vigil will begin at 8 p.m. with the congregation gathering outside the church for the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. We will then process into the darkened church, and continue with the readings and psalms, the blessing of new Holy Water, and the welcoming of 4 new candidates into full communion with the church. we conclude with the celebration of Holy Eucharist.
Please join us for all of these most sacred and meaningful liturgies this week.
A Blessed Easter to all!
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