We invite and welcome everyone to our Holy Week celebrations,
the most holy of all weeks during the entire church year.
With joy and anticipation each of the days of Holy Week combine to bring us a continuous, unbroken remembrance of the events that lead us to Easter Sunday.
Plan to join us at each of the celebrations so you and your family experience all that Holy Week offers you.
Please feel most welcome to join us.
All our welcome!
Bring your children, your parents, your extended family members and guests.
All are welcome in the House of our Lord!
Palm (Passion) Sunday
(Sunday Masses are at 9:00 am and 11:00 am with the Mass of Anticipation Saturday at 7:00 pm)
On Palm Sunday, we receive blessed palm branches to help us recall Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem and his eventual death and resurrection to new life there. Take one for each member of your family and display them in your homes!
The Gospel reading is The Passion of Christ.
Come, join us, experience the holiness of this Mass.
Holy Thursday (Mass is at 7:00 pm; Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00-11:00 pm)
Join us and celebrate with us as we recall and commemorate Christ’s Last Supper.
At this Mass we are reminded that Jesus himself institutes the Holy Eucharist with the words, “this is my Body”, “this is my Blood”. What an amazing gift!
Our Liturgy on this day reminds us of the final meal which Jesus shared with His disciples: how He washed their feet, took bread and wine and blesses them, and turned these elements into His own Body and Blood.
He then instructed His followers to do as He had done, thereby instituting an order of priests to perpetuate His Real Presence on earth.
After Mass the Blessed Sacrament is then brought in procession to an “Altar of Repose” and the main altar is stripped bare. Even the holy water is removed from the fonts until the new water is blessed at the Easter Vigil, when baptismal promises are renewed. If possible, all crosses should be removed from the church, or, if left there, they should be covered.
Come, join us, experience the holiness of this Mass.
Good Friday (Service is at 3:00 pm)
Good Friday is the anniversary of the crucifixion. It is a day on which Christians fast and pray, calling to mind the suffering and death of Christ. In this way they participate in His suffering in order that they may also participate in His Resurrection.
The Good Friday liturgy normally beings at 3:00 pm, the time when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:50). The celebration is divided into three main parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, Holy Communion.
During the Liturgy of the Word, St. John’s account of the passion is read (as on Passion Sunday, the passion is read with no greeting or signing of the book, no incense and no candles). The Passion is followed by general intercessions during which the congregation, led by the celebrant, prays for the needs of the Church and humanity.
The second part of the Good Friday service is the Veneration of the Cross. First the cross is solemnly unveiled; then, while “the reproaches” and other hymns are sung, the priest and people venerate the instrument by which came our redemption.
The third part of the service is the distribution of Holy Communion. A white cloth and corporal are spread on the altar. In silence the priest goes to the Altar of Repose and returns with the Eucharist. He genuflects and, as at Mass, says the Our Father and prayers before Communion. The priest and the faithful receive communion, then the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the church to some suitable place. Finally, with a prayer, the priest dismisses the people, who leave in silence.
Come, join us, experience the holiness of this day.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is a day of mourning. Churches are bare and desolate. Christ our Saviour is dead and buried. No Mass may be celebrated during the day, not even a funeral Mass.
The Easter Vigil (Mass is at 7:00 pm)
We welcome all to come and participate with Christ in the joy of His Resurrection.
The Vigil has four main parts: the Service of Light; the Liturgy of the Word; the Baptismal Liturgy; the Eucharistic Liturgy.
The Service of Light reminds us that Christ is our light. A fire is kindled and blessed. From this new fire, the paschal candle and then candles throughout the church are lighted, showing that we must enlighten each other with the light of Christ.
The Exsultet (the Easter Proclamation) calls upon all heaven and earth to rejoice and praise God of the wonder of our salvation, which was won for us by Christ at the price that proves His infinite love of humanity.
The Liturgy of the Word recalls some of the main events of God’s intervention in the affairs of humanity, beginning with creation and ending the Christ’s Resurrection.
The Liturgy of Baptism reminds us that we were baptized into Christ and so participate in His saving work. First the water, the sign of cleansing and new life, is blessed, and then we renounce our sins and renew our profession of faith in Christ
The Liturgy of the Eucharist brings the Easter Vigil to its climax as we offer to God the perfect sacrifice and receive our Saviour in Holy Communion.
The Easter Vigil ends with the solemn blessing and dismissal as the people of God go forth singing “Alleluia” to proclaim and live the good news of the Resurrection.
Come, join us, celebrate with us this most holy of all nights in our Catholic faith.
Easter Sunday (Mass is at 9:00 am and 11:00 am
Easter is not only the greatest Christian feast; it is the fulfillment of our faith as Christians, commemorating Christ’s Resurrection. Through His Death, Christ destroyed our bondage to sin; through His Resurrection, he brought us the promise of new life, both in Heaven and on earth.
How more fitting is it to say thank you than to praise and worship and receive Jesus at this Holy Mass.
Come, join us, celebrate with us this most holy Sunday Mass.
Please feel most welcome to join us.
All our welcome!
Bring your children, your parents, your extended family members and guests.
All are welcome in the House of our Lord!