“The family, so to speak, is the domestic Church.”  (LG #11)

Our families and our homes are the first places we encounter God— through witness of our parents, through prayer, and by bringing the meaning of the Sacraments into the home.  However, many families feel ill-equipped or are unsure where to begin in celebrating their faith at home.  Our primary goals should be to love God and then love others to heaven.

The days from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday are some of the holiest and most reverant days of our liturgical year.  Palm Sunday recalls the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the entire Passion narrative.  Holy Thursday reminds us of the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood-- focusing on the Blessed Sacrament.  On Good Friday, we have the one day of our liturgical year where the Mass is not celebrated.  Rather, at a Good Friday service, we venerate the cross, the instrument of Christ's death, and pray fervently for the world.  Holy Saturday is a quiet day in the Church.  No liturgies are celebrated until after sundown when the grandest celebration of the Church year happens-- the Easter Vigil.  On this holiest of nights, we read the entire salvation story from the Old Testament through the New Testament, we bring in new members to the faith through the Sacraments in the Rites of Inititation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), and we rejoice together as Christ has conquered death and freed us from the slavery of sin.  The days between Holy Thursday through Easter Vigil are one continuous liturgy known as Triduum.  It begins on Holy Thursday and does not end until the final blessing at Easter Vigil.

As a family, you can remember the days of Triduum at home!  Here is a great blog reflection for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.  Want to learn more about Triduum?  Here is a great article (with links to videos and info on the symbols of the liturgies within the article).

Join us this year at our liturgies as we remember the Life, Death, and Resurrection of our Savior!

Palm Sunday Masses are the normal schedule (5pm Saturday, 8am, 10:30am, 5pm Sunday), with the exception of a procession at the 10:30am Mass (weather permitting) on April 2.

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper is at 7pm on April 6 with the Altar of Repose and Adoration in the Chapel until midnight. 

Good Friday Devotions are from 12-3pm (12pm Rosary, 1pm Seven Last Words, 2pm Stations of the Cross, 2:45pm Divine Mercy Chaplet).  Our Good Friday Service will be held at 3pm on April 7.

Easter Vigil will begin after sundown at 8:30pm on April 8.  A light reception will follow the Mass.