Each parishioner, the the members of our community, are invited to participate in these significant and important services for Holy Week.
HOLY WEDNESDAY – April 20, 2011: The decoration of the church will take place at 12 P.M. Especially ANS members are asked to help. The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance – General Confession will take place at 7:00 P.M. The youth who have received First Holy Communion and are under 16 years are strongly encouraged to attend the private forms of confession at 7:30 PM. Adults if wish can attend private form of confession.
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 21, 2011: we will commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus in the Upper Room and the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Orders, Holy Eucharist and Penance at 7:15 P.M. On that day we will celebrate the Holy Mass in white vestments. On Holy Thursday we will ring bells during the Gloria. The bells will not be used until the liturgy of Resurrection. At the end of Holy Thursday Mass, the Holy Eucharist will be taken to the side altar to signify that Jesus was taken at night from the Garden of Olives and imprisoned by the Sanhedrin. The exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be until 9:00 P.M. Please sign up for the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament on the list located in the parish hall.
GOOD FRIDAY – April 22, 2011: The liturgy of the Stations of the Cross with children and youth participation will take place.at 3:00 P.M. We will meditate for the last time during this Lent the passion and suffering of our Lord. The opening of the Lord’s tomb will take place. A simple reception will take place consisting of coffee and juice with crackers.
The Liturgy of Good Friday this year will take place at 4:15 P.M. The Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified on Good Friday consists of the Passion of Jesus according to the Gospel of St. John. The main purpose of the liturgy will be veneration of the Cross, the symbol of victory over death and sin. On that day the Holy Communion will be distributed (consecrated on Holy Thursday) and the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament will take place until 6:30 p.m. Please sign up for the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament on the list located in the parish hall.
HOLY SATURDAY – April 23, 2011: On Holy Saturday you can bring the Easter baskets with festive food to be blessed at 4:00 p.m. Easter baskets will be blessed also after the Liturgy of Holy Saturday. Since the ancient times the Holy Saturday was a day for the new catechumens to be baptized. Our Liturgy will begin at 6:00 P.M. with the blessing of fire and the Pascal candle. The Liturgy of the Word with the history of salvation will take place. The Holy Water will be blessed which we use during the upcoming weeks to bless ourselves in the church, to baptize children and for the Asperses on Sundays. The Easter Vigil will take place at the end of the celebration.
EASTER – SUNDAY – APRIL 24, 2011: The Resurrection Liturgy will be celebrated on Easter Sunday at 8:00 a.m. preceded with the procession around the church. The solemn Holy Mass of the Resurrection will follow. The second Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.
My Dear Parishioners and Friends, each and everyone is welcomed to attend these beautiful celebrations in order to more completely understand the meaning and important events of the life of Jesus especially His passion and glorious resurrection.
Wishing you a Happy and blessed Easter.
Christ has risen! Indeed He is risen!
Father Joseph R. Cyman, Pastor