3/21/21

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

We are now only two weeks away from Easter. Traditionally these last two weeks were known as Passiontide. This Sunday used to be called Passion Sunday and was the beginning of Passiontide, which ended with Easter. A tradition, which goes back to the 800's, was to cover the church statues and crosses during Passiontide. This represents both an increasing fast, a fast from images, and an increased asceticism as we approach the holiest days of the year– the Triduum and Easter. The statues are covered in simple purple or violet cloth because those colors represent penance. In order to enter more fully into Passiontide and the spiritual journey of Passiontide, which includes the Triduum, and then into Easter, we are reviving at St. Joseph's the tradition of covering the statues in the church.

Passiontide culminates in the Triduum, which in Latin means 'three days,' comprising: Maundy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday with the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Saturday when the Triduum ends and Easter starts with the Easter Vigil Mass. These are the days when Our Lord's passion and death took place. Easter is the day on which Our Lord was resurrected from the dead– the day on which Christ completed His Victory over sin and death, the achievement of our salvation. 

These are the holiest days of the year. I would recommend, if possible, requesting Good Friday off from work so that you can attend all the Triduum liturgies, which begin Thursday night and end with Easter. The schedule for Holy Week at St. Joseph's is below.

Finally, please consider volunteering to help with the liturgies this Holy Week. We need ushers and lectors for these liturgies, as well as help cleaning and preparing the church for Easter. If you would like to help, please call the parish or email us. Thank you for your generosity!

Palm Sunday – Masses usual Sunday times. Palms will be given out.

Holy Monday – 12:10 pm daily Mass; Reconciliation Monday (confessions from 3-9 pm)

Holy Tuesday – 12:10 pm daily mass

Spy Wednesday – 12:10 pm daily Mass; 2 pm church cleaning (volunteers welcome)

Maundy Thursday – 

•9 am- Matins & Lauds in church

•4:30 pm- Setup church

•6:45 pm- Liturgy rehearsal

•8 pm- Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by adoration in the chapel of repose 

•12 am- Compline closes adoration

Good Friday –

•9 am- Matins & Lauds in church

•10 am (after prayer)- Setup church

•12 pm- stations of the cross

•12 pm-1pm- Confessions

• 2 pm- Liturgy rehearsal

• 3 pm- Veneration of the Cross 

Holy Saturday –

•9 am- Matins & Lauds in church

•10 am- Decorate church & liturgy setup 

•11 am- Vigil rehearsal (for servers, RCIA, etc.)

• 8:30 pm– Easter Vigil 

Easter Sunday –

•normal Mass schedule (9 am, 11:30 am, 6 pm), with overflow Masses in the school auditorium