HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
PALM SUNDAY, April 2
4:30pm – Saturday Evening (4/1) Mass & Blessing of Palms (Church)
8:00am – Mass & Blessing of Palms (Church)
9:30am – Blessing of Palms and Procession to Church (School)
10:00am – Palm Sunday Mass (Church)
HOLY THURSDAY, April 6
7:00pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Church Open for Prayer until 10:00pm
GOOD FRIDAY, April 7
12:00pm – Stations of the Cross
7:00pm – Memorial of the Lord’s Passion & Death
HOLY SATURDAY, April 8
8:00pm – Easter Vigil
EASTER SUNDAY, April 9
Masses at 8:00am & 10:00am
PALM SUNDAY
The weekend of April 1-2 celebrates Palm Sunday. The 4:30pm Mass on Saturday and the 8:00am Mass on Sunday will begin in the back of Church with the blessing of palms and the reading of the first Gospel before the ministers and Fr. John process into Church. However, on Sunday morning, the 10:00am Mass will actually begin at 9:30am in front of our School on Castleman Avenue. The celebration will begin with the blessing of palms there on the School blacktop, and then the congregation will joyfully process up Castleman and down 39th Street to Church, where Mass will continue at 10:00am. This is a wonderful opportunity to witness our faith to our neighborhood, so please join us if able. All this is weather permitting, of course, so if it is raining, please check back on this parish website for the latest updates.
SCHOOL STATIONS OF THE CROSS
On Tuesday, April 4, the 6th grade class will present a Living Stations of the Cross. The Stations will be set up on the black top. The actors will pose and hold still as the homeroom teacher of the class coming through reads a reflection/reading. Homerooms come individually throughout the morning/day. This will be open to the 6th grade parents/families, as well as any other parishioners who wish to join – there will be a block of time set aside for them to come and see, likely first thing that morning.
HOLY THURSDAY
During our celebration of Holy Thursday Mass, we invite families of second grade students – soon to make their First Communion – to sit together near the front of Church to experience this Mass of the Lord’s Supper in a special way. Our second graders will also carry forward the gifts made by our parish through the CRS Rice Bowls as part of the Offertory procession and will join Father in transferring the Eucharist into our St. Vincent de Paul Chapel at the end of the Mass.
FAST AND ABSTINENCE
Good Friday, April 7, is a day of fast and abstinence. Fasting is for Catholics between the ages of 18-59 and means one meal, two smaller meals, and nothing in between meals. Medicine and water are always allowed, and in cases of ill health, there is no obligation. Abstinence is refraining from eating meat. If possible, continue this fast through Holy Saturday, so that we may approach the Resurrection hungry and thirsty and ready to receive Christ!
GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER
Following our traditional Good Friday Stations of the Cross at 12:00pm Noon, the SMOS Gun Sense: For the Common Good task force invites you to a Good Friday Prayer Vigil: Mourning and Remembering Lives Lost. Please join in prayer for those whose lives have been torn away due to gun violence in our City and in our neighborhoods. You may want to bring the name(s) of someone you know (or know of) who has died as a result of gun violence. The gathering will be a quiet prayerful vigil outside in front of church on Good Friday, April 7 from 2:00-3:00pm.
BLESSING OF EASTER BASKETS & CHALK DRAWINGS
All our families and children are invited to bring their Easter Baskets and Easter foods for a blessing at 12:00 noon on Holy Saturday, April 8. This blessing will take place outside in the garden area between the Church and Rectory. Following the blessing, all are invited to decorate our sidewalks around Church with Easter chalk drawings to welcome everyone who comes to Church on Easter Sunday morning. Bring your chalk, your ideas, and your enthusiasm!
TRIDUUM COLLECTIONS
On Holy Thursday, a collection is always to be taken exclusively for the poor. This year, our Holy Thursday collection will be shared with our St. Vincent de Paul Society. If you have been using a CRS Rice Bowl, please bring that collection to Holy Thursday Mass. Those funds will be given to Catholic Relief Services.
On Good Friday, a collection is taken for the upkeep of the Christian shrines in the Holy Land.
On Easter Sunday, a collection is taken for the care of our retired Archdiocesan priests who have served us so well for many years. Thanks for your generosity to our retired priests, and to all these special collections!
HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS
The School will be closed starting on Holy Thursday. The Parish Office will be closed from 12:00pm Noon on Holy Thursday. Both School and Parish offices will be closed through Easter Monday.
There will be no 6:30am Mass on Easter Monday, April 10.