Sunday, April 5, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
Living Stations
Tenebrae Tonight
Fr. Vogel will lead Night Prayer and Tenebrae (Office of Darkness) tonight at 9 - 10 pm in the church. (After the evening Good Friday service.)
Before Vatican II, Tenebrae was part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church. Now this modified version is for personal devotion, including elements from the original Tenebrae, as well as prayers from night prayer and traditional hymns from the Good Friday service. Fr. Vogel plans to pray it in the darkened Church with whomever wants to join him.
As the service progresses candles are extinguished until all are put out at the end. Then, the people bang their prayer books on the pews in reference to the earthquake when Jesus died. A single candle is brought out signifying the resurrection. All depart in silence.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Holiest Days are Upon Us
Lent seemed to go by in the blink of an eye, and now the holiest days of the year are upon us.
As usual, I don’t feel prepared. I grew lax in my Lenten penance. And instead of humbly and gratefully accepting the crosses that came my way, I fought them, resisting and complaining.
Thank God for Jesus.
With Him, it’s never too late in our earthly journey to begin again.
He said so in His parable of the workers in the vineyard, demonstrating His extreme generosity, even to us late-starters.
And there’s the witness of St. Dismas, the “good thief” crucified with Jesus, who with a contrite heart professed his belief in his final hour and heard our Lord say, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Jesus’ mercy isn’t something to take advantage of, a way to intentionally delay what He asks of us. His mercy is The Way He speaks of. No one can go to the Father, except through the Son, Who is mercy itself.
So despite any of our failings, we can relax today and begin anew, trusting in His Way and not our own feeble attempts at holiness.
And in His mercy, Jesus can transform us through His death and resurrection, which we are about to commemorate. If we just have trust and a contrite heart.
My Jesus, have mercy! Give us new life through your death and resurrection!
Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Triduum Schedule
After today, there is no scheduled Reconciliation until after Easter Sunday. Today there is Reconciliation from 11:00 to noon and 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the church.
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper
There is only one Mass on Holy Thursday and it is at 7 p.m. This Mass includes washing of the feet and ends with a procession to the Social Hall where the Eucharist will be placed in an Altar of Repose. Remembering Jesus praying in the Garden, you may come and pray with Him until midnight.
Stations of the Cross
Deacon Hill will lead Stations of the Cross in the church at noon on Good Friday.
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
There are two services on Good Friday - but no Mass. This service does include veneration of the cross. Fr Vogel will lead the 3 p.m. service chanting the Mass (recall that it was at 3:00 that Jesus died.) Fr. Steve will lead the 7 p.m. service.
Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil must begin not only after sunset, but after it is dark. In our diocese that is interpreted as after the "Civil Twilight." Our service will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard. There the new Easter Candle will be lit and lead us into the church. There will be baptisms and confirmation for those who are entering the Church this year.
Easter Sunday
6:00, 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m. The first Mass is earlier than normal - at 6 a.m. Also note that there is NOT a 5 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday.
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