Holy Week Begins!

Please join us in the celebration of the Triduum Liturgies:

  • Chrism Mass, Monday, April 14, 11:00 AM at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe

  • Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Thursday, April 17, 7:00 PM (Bilingual)- in the Parish Life Center (NO 9:15 AM Daily Mass, no Confessions today)

  • Good Friday – April 18, (NO 9:15 AM Daily Mass / Chapel opens at 12 noon)
    The Passion of Our Lord, Friday, 3:00 p.m. (Bilingual)
    Via Crucis en Vivo – (Bilingual) The Way of the Cross – 6:30 PM Outdoors on the Parish Campus

  • Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter, Saturday, April 19, 8:30 PM  

The Resurrection of the Lord- Easter Sunday- April 20th

  • 6 AM Sunrise Mass –  OUTDOOR MASS – Courtyard (Bring your own chair)

  • 8 AM in the Parish Life Center

  • 9:30 AM OUTDOOR MASS – Courtyard (Bring your own chair)

  • 11:00 AM in the Parish Life Center – NO INCENSE AT MASS

  • 1:00 PM  in the Parish Life Center (Spanish)

Christ Speaks from the Cross 

Join the OCIA/RCIA group for this parish wide Holy Week presentation. Christ’s brief but profound sayings from the cross offer eternal wellsprings of wisdom and spiritual revelation for all. From Calvary, the dying Christ delivered the ultimate sermon of sermons, giving us powerful messages of Eternal Love and Hope. These deeply moving messages of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, suffering, distress, triumph, and reunion are potent words that will change your life. Join us at 7 pm in the Parish Life Center on Monday, April 14th as we enter Holy Week with our eyes upon Christ and the Cross.

 

Las Ultimas Siete Palabras de Nuestro Señor Jesús

Join us on Wednesday, April 16th at 7 pm in the Parish Life Center for this moving recount of the Last Seven Words of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This event will be in Spanish.

When Jesus was on the cross, he spoke seven phrases of great meaning for those who contemplate his passion and death. Today, we recall his Seven Last Words, which have been widely used in sermons in observance of Good Friday. The tradition began in the 17th century by a Jesuit priest in Peru named Francisco Del Castillo. He developed a meditation service based on the last words of Jesus, and the devotion spread around the world. The last words of Jesus, as they appear in the Gospel, became part of the church’s Lenten tradition. These often include music, prayers, or reflections.

Cuando Jesús estaba en la cruz, pronunció siete frases de gran significado para aquellos que contemplan su pasión y muerte. Hoy, recordamos sus Últimas Siete Palabras, las cuales han sido muy usadas en los sermones de Viernes Santo.La tradición comenzó en el siglo XVII por un Sacerdote Jesuita en Perú, de nombre Francisco Del Castillo. Él, desarrolló un servicio de meditaciones basado en las últimas palabras de Jesús y en la devoción se difundío alrededor del mundo. Las últimas palabras de Jesús, tal como aparecen en el Evangelio, se volvieron parte de la tradición cuaresmal de la iglesia. Estas, a menudo, incluye música, rezos o reflexiones.

El Via Crucis en Vivo – The Way of the Cross

Join us on Good Friday, April 18th at 6:30 pm for our Bilingual Living Station of the Cross, as we relive the Passion of our Lord Jesus and we share in His suffering.  Share with us these impactful reflections narrated by our parishioners.

Acompáñenos a recordar la Pasión de Jesús y compartir con Nuestro Señor todos sus sufrimientos.  Comparta con nosotros estas impactantes reflexiones narradas por miembros de nuestra parroquia.

 

The Triduum

What is the Triduum?

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.

The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

The liturgical celebrations that take place during the Triduum are:

  • Mass of the Lord’s Supper- Holy Thursday Mass 
  • The Passion of the Lord and Veneration of the Cross- Good Friday
  • Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord- EASTER

For more answers on the Sacred Paschal Triduum, please CLICK HERE

Click on the image to learn more about Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and the Triduum

 

The tradition of blessing the food for Easter returns on Holy Saturday, April 19th. Join us on the Front Porch at 9 am to have your Easter meal blessed. According to custom, food may be blessed before Easter Sunday morning for consumption at the first meal of Easter, when fasting is ended and the Church is filled with joy. Praise the Lord for all His blessings!

 

 Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

  • The Sacrament of Penance — Go to Confession during this Lent and experience the gift of God’s boundless mercy.

  • Lectio Divina for Lent — Mediate on God’s Word with Lectio Divina guides for the Sundays of Lent that focus on themes of the Jubilee of Mercy and can be used by individuals or in group settings.

What is Lent?

 

Lent, Fasting, & Abstinence

Fasting is to be observed by all 18 years of age and older, who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient o maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and juices, are allowed.

Abstinence is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence, no meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. When in doubt concerning fast and abstinence, the parish priest should be consulted.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.     Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are the three traditional disciplines of Lent. The faithful and catechumens should undertake these practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism or of renewal of baptism at Easter.