Entering Holy Week

As we prepare to enter Holy Week - I thought I would share this picture of our own Cardinal Collins with Pope Francis - taken this past week.  One of the priests from Fr. Damian's time in the seminary sent him this photo!

The Paschal Triduum
The word Paschal comes from our Jewish roots – meaning Passover.  The word Triduum is a Latin word that means “Three Days”.  These three Days are counted:
     sunset Thursday to sunset Friday;
     sunset Friday to sunset Saturday; and
     sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday
The Paschal Triduum is the heart of the Christian faith and we celebrate the life giving mystery of Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension to Spirit filled Glory.

On Holy Thursday the Gospel Passage that is proclaimed each year is the mandate of self-sacrificing service in the washing of the feet. We want to invite everyone to have their feet washed. We also invite you to bring food and money (including grocery gift cards)  for those who experience poverty – and these offerings will be brought up during the preparation of the gifts.  (These gifts will be shared with our local food support program: The Exchange)

On Good Friday we gather to "Glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." We will invite everyone to venerate the Cross in the Passion celebration.  We arrive and depart from this liturgy in silence.  Our Youth will have a dramatic Stations of the Cross on Friday Evening at 7:30 pm

On Holy Saturday, we will gather at midday (12:00 noon) to anoint the Elect - those preparing for initiation at the Easter Vigil - and we will bless Baskets with the first food of Easter.  St. Augustine called the Easter Vigil “The Mother of all Vigils” – and this liturgy will begin when it is dark (8:30 p.m.) and we start outside with the Blessing of the new Easter fire.  Fire / Air / Water / Earth.

Easter Sunday Masses - 8:15, 10:00 and 12 Noon.

Peace