WE WILL HAVE HOLY WEEK AND EASTER THIS YEAR

This year we will have Holy Week and Easter. It was quite a disappointment for everyone last year when we could not celebrate the most important time of the year in our Church year. However, some of the services will be scaled back somewhat. Because of the ongoing pandemic, we will still have to keep social distancing in mind, we will still be wearing masks, and we will still have to sanitize our hands, BUT WE CAN HAVE OUR SERVICES.

Holy Week begins this weekend with Passion (Palm) Sunday. During these services we bless palms that commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem just prior to his death on the cross. Palms will be handed to everyone as they enter the church. We cannot leave them on tables at the entrances of the church to avoid them being handled by several people. We also read the Passion Narrative as part of the Mass this weekend.

Holy Thursday 7:00 p.m. is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This year because of the restrictions in place we will not have the Washing of the Feet during this Mass. As noted in the Roman Missal the Washing of the Feet is optional. At the end of the Mass the procession to the Altar of Repose will be shortened. The church will remain open for private prayer until 9:00 p.m.

Good Friday is the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 2:00 p.m. For the veneration of the Cross this year, we will not be allowed to touch or kiss the Cross. The veneration will take place by processing up the aisle and venerating the Cross with a genuflection or simple bow.

The Easter Vigil will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Holy Saturday. Lighting of the Fire and the Paschal Candle will take place as usual with only a few in the procession. Candles will be handed out as people enter the church. Kim Danna will be joining our faith community through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. We congratulate her having completed the Rite of Christian Initiation during such a challenging year.

Easter Sunday Masses will be as usual.

Everyone is invited to join us keeping in mind all practices that have allowed us to continue to gather in church. All services will be livestreamed since there are still some vulnerable people among us and the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect at the present time.