It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Lk. 23:44-46)
“Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion” begins Holy Week. If you have never really experienced all of the services of Holy Week, consider doing so this year. Commemorating the events of the Lord’s Suffering and Death help us to have a greater understanding of the importance of the Easter Resurrection. Jesus had to suffer and die before he rose.
On Holy Thursday we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00pm, which commemorates the night when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and washed his Apostle’s feet. This Mass begins the Sacred Triduum, and at the conclusion of the Mass, the Eucharist is removed from the center Tabernacle in the church and “reposed” in another altar to recall Jesus’ being arrested and jailed. There will be Adoration at the Altar of Repose from the end of Mass until the sun rises on Good Friday at 6:00am. On Good Friday the church will be open at 7:00am for those who are walking to visit the nine churches. Also open will be St. Henry Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
Later on Good Friday, the Veneration of the Cross will take place at 3:00pm, the hour of Our Lord’s death.
Holy Saturday is a day of great stillness, as we remember when Christ died and descended into Hell. That great stillness is broken by the joy of the Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00pm, when we gloriously proclaim the Resurrection of Our Lord. The Easter Vigil which will be preceded by Confessions beginning at 6:30pm. There will be no 4:00pm vigil Mass, and Masses on Easter Sunday will be as usual at 8:00am and 10:30am.
This weekend there is a sign-up sheet at the back of church for those who will respond to the plea of Jesus “to stay awake with me one hour” (Mt. 26:40) on Holy Thursday. It is one of the most solemn nights of the year to contemplate Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prepares for his Passion and Death. Please consider taking one of the hours on the sign-up sheet for our Holy Thursday Vigil. And please consider attending all of the events of Holy Week, which is the most important week of the year for all Catholics.
(Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
