For What It's Worth by Erin

HOLY WEEK IS HERE! Let’s plan to celebrate it well! We have daily Mass on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week as usual, but on Thursday, something changes. Thursday, we begin ONE celebration over THREE days, called the Triduum.


What begins Thursday evening doesn’t end until Saturday night. Each portion of this Mass celebrates and remembers Jesus’ final days on earth, and His final hours of earthly life. Holy Thursday, we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist with the Mass of the Last Supper. We finish that evening with Adoration of the Eucharist we just consecrated, venerating what we will share and receive on Good Friday.


On Friday, we continue with Jesus’ passion, His death on the cross and His burial. Good Friday is the only day of the year where Mass is NOT celebrated — remember, Good Friday is the second part of the Triduum, so is not its own Mass. Because we remember Jesus’ death and burial, we do not consecrate Eucharist.


Our tabernacles remain empty until Eucharist is celebrated again at the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil culminates this great celebration. On this great night full of ritual and symbol. We hear God’s word, and then those preparing for Baptism are welcomed into the church. The sacrament of confirmation follows, and Eucharist is celebrated again by all, welcoming our new Catholics to the table of the Lord.


We encourage you to attend as many pieces of the Triduum as you can. For those who do not come to the Vigil, we have our normal Sunday Mass times for you to choose from. May God bless all of us, especially those we are welcoming into the church.  Happy Easter everybody!