Holy Week Triduum 2023: April 6-9

Preparing for the Triduum Celebrations

The Paschal Triduum / Holy Triduum / Easter Triduum (Triduum = Three Days) begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaching its high point with the Easter Vigil Liturgy on Saturday and concludes with Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Easter Sunday. When we think of the “day” we should, like our Jewish friends, begin the day with the evening before.  
 

Holy Thursday

At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (7:30 p.m.), the Church invites us to contemplate the institution of the priesthood, the call of all of us to servanthood, and the institution of the Mass. At the beginning of the liturgy, we are joyously brought together to begin the Triduum. At the beginning of the sacred liturgy, the holy oils consecrated by our bishop are brought forward, twelve parishioners representing the whole faith community have their feet washed by the clergy, the institution of the priesthood is recalled, the celebration of the Last Supper culminates with Holy Communion and at the close of the Liturgy, the Blessed Sacrament is reposed for Adoration by all the faithful.  

The period of Adoration begins after the Mass and concludes at midnight with the praying of Compline (Night Prayer.) 
 

Good Friday

The day begins with Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9:00 a.m. This is a simple chanted prayer with plenty of time for reflection, a good way to begin and to set the focus of this Good Day.  

At 1:00 p.m. the celebration of the Liturgy for Good Friday begins. 
Note: the Church does not permit a mass of Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil. The celebration includes the proclamation of the Passion according to St. John, the General Intercessions focusing on the needs of all the world, the Adoration and Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.  Everyone is invited to bring a crucifix from home (rosary, a cross displayed at home, etc.) During the Veneration everyone will be invited to come forward to bow before the cross. It would be appropriate and meaningful to have the cross from your home readily available so you can kiss your cross.

Youth Stations of the Cross and Mime at 5:00 p.m.
Join our Youth Ministry students on Good Friday as they reenact the Passion of Our Lord and bring back the Mime after a two year hiatus. We will pray the Stations of the Cross and follow with our Mime performance. All are welcome to attend. 

The Tenebrae, a service of darkness, will be prayed at 8:30 p.m. In this liturgy, the church is illuminated by candlelight. As the liturgy progresses the candles are extinguished one by one until we are in complete darkness. Then a single candle appears to illumine the darkness. This time of prayer is very symbolic and can be quite moving. 

Holy Saturday

The day begins with Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9:00 a.m. This is a simple chanted prayer with plenty of time for reflection. The prayer emphasizes the emptiness of Jesus who has died and is buried.  

Right after Lauds, the church is decorated for the great Easter Vigil, and later in the morning, the last-minute rehearsing of the ministers and those to be initiated takes place. 

Later in the day the Church transitions into Easter mode with the Easter Vigil Liturgy at 8:30 p.m. The liturgy begins with a blazing fire, the lighting of the Paschal (Easter) candle, followed by several readings telling the story of our salvation history. The singing of the Gloria (Glory to God) and Alleluia reminds us that once and for all “death has been conquered.” Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! The next part of the Liturgy includes the welcoming (initiating) of new members into the Church and bring those who are baptized fully into the Church. After everyone is fully initiated the celebration continues with the Eucharist and sending forth into the world to proclaim, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.”   
 

Easter Sunday

The Church bells peal forth welcoming the faithful to mass and telling the world that Christ is truly risen from the dead. Masses are celebrated at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. with the parish Choir and Brass, at 11:15 a.m. with the Ensemble and 1:00 p.m. in Spanish with the Coro-Mariachi.

The liturgies are bright and joyful celebrations. During the masses, the renewal of Baptismal Promises is made by all and then we are sent forth into the world to proclaim by our lives that Christ is indeed risen from the dead.

We will have an Easter Egg Hunt after the 9:30, 11:15 and 1:00 p.m. Masses on the lawn behind the Church. Thank you to our Knights of Columbus for hosting the egg hunts!

Come Celebrate!

(Note:  There are NO 5:00 p.m. masses on Saturday or Sunday.)
 

Easter Monday

Daily Mass
9:00 a.m.