This coming Sunday is one of the most beautiful and important Masses of our Liturgical year for me. We begin by proclaiming one of the most relevant scripture verses in the entire bible, one that resonates with me more and more: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" as Jesus begins his last week on earth as a mortal (human) being. We are brought from the excitement of our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the devastating emotional distress of Jesus's death, especially hard for us now in this present day because we know what is going to happen. Please read Joan Doyle's Sunday Missal Introduction to Palm Sunday, for I shall not attempt further to describe here all that this coming Holy Week can emote for us.

The richness of Holy Week is, for me, beyond words. I am simply honoured and humbled to be able to imagine myself there, to feel myself there with Jesus, as we, His Church, enter into these mysteries, not just in remembrance, but with active participation in the greatest expression of love this world has ever known.  

Here is the link to the ICC Sunday Gospel Reflection for Palm Sunday:

And, don't forget Bishop Barron's daily reflections which are included on our parish website!!

Please pray for those who are sick
Sherry Henderson, Ahmet Ongun, Walter Bailey (brother of Joyce Menard), Denis Doherty, Adri Fair, Bill Mallett, Dave Brown, Mary Ann Campeau, Kendra Ferguson, Mark Daly, Ellen Thompson, Paul Davy, Louise Patry, Andrea Knapp, Grace Patterson, Diana Hoy, Steven Gilmore, Adeline & Leonard Godin, Judy MacDonald, Toni Jansman, Dayna DeDekker, Dorothy Dove, Wayne Dove, Carolyn Crobsy, Jean Farlinger, Anita Burton, Carmel Glynn, Tommy Glynn,  Debra Health, Allan Aikens, Paulette Larose, Cameron Gauthier, Allan Moore, Barb Saunders,  Wayne Campeau, Yvonne Couperus, Paul Beauchemin, Lois & Wayne Boisvenue, Suzanne Bradley,  Marg Hallenbeck-Sears, Megan Walser, Madeline King, George Zinn, George Mallett,  Denise Gauthier, Elaine & Larry Beckstead,  Tony Boileau,  Ann Hopkins, Amber Legacy, Arlene Moore, Jonathan Roughton, and all who are sick, injured or infirmed.

Please pray for the Faithful Departed
Ray O’Neil, Helen Hogan (Deacon Allan’s Mom), Marg Mallon, Emma Jean Sawatsky, Daryl Lyons, Orval Larose, Gerry Pollex, Father Ed Keyes (former Parish Priest at Sacred Heart Cardinal), Donna Landon, Mary Armstrong, Fernand Beauchemin, Norm Fortier, Christina Daly, Jay Perrault, Jean Kijewski, Dan Coligan, Noreen Warren, Bill Dellaire, Ruth Perkins, Frank McCoy, James Tristram,  Barry Lampson, Mary Girard, Bill Tobin, Cliff Scanlan, Joyce Henry, Roy Sexton, Stanley Bernaski, Bill Fridgen, and all those who have died.

At a dinner with friends recently, we discussed some of the symbolism unique to the Paschal Triduum, and I thought it would be interesting to include some of it for you here. 

From the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper until Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday, the Church celebrates a very special period called the Paschal Triduum, the summit of the Liturgical Year which marks the end of the Lenten season and leads us to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil. Though chronologically three days, the Triduum is liturgically celebrated as one day, unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery. Because of this important spiritual shift, there are some symbols used during this liturgical season that are unique to the Paschal Triduum. 

 
Holy Thursday

Holy Oils
The Holy Oils that are used by the Church throughout the year (Oil of the Sick, Oil of the Catechumens, and Holy chrism) may be presented during the entrance procession of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. These oils are blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass—which can happen on Holy Thursday or another time during Holy Week—with the priests of the diocese gathered at the local cathedral. During this celebration, all of the priests present renew their priestly vows.

Ringing of the Bells
During the “Gloria” which is sung on Holy Thursday, we hear the altar bells ringing! We are celebrating the Mass for the last time until the Easter Vigil, and the Church is in mourning so the bells will remain silent until we sing the “Gloria” again.

Washing of the Feet 
As Jesus did at the Last Supper (John 14:1-17), the Church is called to wash the feet of the members of the Body of Christ during the celebration of the Institution of the Eucharist. This symbol of humility is a wonderful connection with the service of Christ. [This is an optional ritual.]

Ubi Caritas
It is rare that the Church prescribes a specific hymn to be sung other than those prescribed for the Proper of the Mass, yet on Holy Thursday the Roman Missal says that we should sing the ancient song “Ubi Caritas” during the Offertory. A very simple song, the lyrics are very meaningful, especially for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Translated, they mean "Where charity is, God is there."

Eucharistic Procession and Reposition
The Church’s tabernacle, while normally filled with the Blessed Sacrament and reserved hosts, is emptied and brought to the Altar of Repose where the faithful are invited to join in Adoration. This procession is meant to be of great importance for the community and reminds us of the walk that Christ is about to take the following day on the Via Dolorosa, but instead of being nailed to a cross, we place our King in a place of honor.
 
Good Friday
 
Fonts
After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, churches are supposed to empty their Holy Water fonts “in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil, and it corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated (i.e., Good Friday and Holy Saturday).” (EWTN)

Prostration
On Good Friday, the Church is mourning the death of Christ and is full of sorrow. In response to this sorrow, the priest (and deacon, if present) prostates himself in front of a stark, barren altar. There is no music and none of the regular pomp and circumstance that comes with the beginning of a liturgical celebration. No sacraments are to be celebrated but that of penance and the anointing of the sick. The earth has gone quiet.

No Invitation
Normally, when a priest begins Mass, he invites us all to pray along with him, saying, “Let us pray.” During the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Good Friday), no such invitation is made. The priest just begins his invocation.

Solemn Intercessions
You may find that the prayers of the faithful may take longer than normal. Your church may sing them or have them chanted, with some kneeling and standing interspersed.

Adoration of the Holy Cross
There are many ways in which the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion is different from other liturgical celebrations, and the adoration of the Cross is certainly one of them. We are invited to come forward and spend time in veneration and adoration of the Cross on this most solemn of days – the day on which Christ perished while hanging from the very cross which we venerate. You may notice people genuflecting to the cross – this is something reserved specifically for Good Friday, out of veneration and sorrow for the blood which was shed and soaked up by the wood of the cross.

Communion
The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper is not a Mass. It is the one day out of the year in which no Mass is celebrated anywhere on Earth. Therefore, when we come to the celebration, there is no Eucharistic Prayer or any prayer related until, after the Adoration of the Holy Cross, the priest or deacon brings out the Blessed Sacrament and begins praying the Agnus Dei as it is normally done at Mass, which follows with himself and others receiving the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil

Decoration
When one walks into the church for the Easter Vigil, they will notice a big change from the celebrations of Lent and Holy Week – the church should be decorated with lilies, white and gold, and a joyful décor! While the lights should be turned down as well, we are anticipating the Resurrection and the excitement is palpable!

The Light of Christ
From the fire used to light the Easter Candle, the inscriptions on the Easter Candle, and the procession into the Church, light is integral to the Easter Vigil due to its representation of the "light of Christ, rising in glory," scattering the "darkness of our hearts and minds." We process into the Church with the Easter Candle, “just as the children of Israel were guided at night by the pillar of fire, so Christians follow the risen Christ” as we proclaim The Light of Christ while singing praises of thanksgiving! (USCCB)

Readings
Instead of the standard first reading, epistle and gospel, at the Easter Vigil we hear many more readings that take us from the beginning of creation to  Jesus's death and resurrection as fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.
 

May the observance of these special customs, rituals and symbols bless your Holy Week / Triduum, and bring you into a truly joyous Easter season.

HOLY THURSDAY - Mass of the Lord's Supper
When you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death, until He comes again.  I Corinthians 11:26 

HOLY THURSDAY is the most complex and profound of all religious observances, saving only the Easter Vigil. It celebrates both the institution by Christ himself of the Eucharist and of the institution of the sacerdotal priesthood (as distinct from the 'priesthood of all believers') for in this, His last supper with the disciples, a celebration of Passover, He is the self-offered Passover Victim, and every ordained priest to this day presents this same sacrifice, by Christ's authority and command, in exactly the same way. The Last Supper was also Christ's farewell to His assembled disciples, some of whom would betray, desert or deny Him before the sun rose again.

The Holy Thursday liturgy, celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown, also shows both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water (a symbol of baptism) in the Mandatum, or washing in Jesus' washing the feet of His disciples, and in the priest's stripping and washing of the altar. Cleansing, in fact, gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday.

The action of the Church on this night also witnesses to the Church's esteem for Christ's Body present in the consecrated Host in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, carried in solemn procession to the Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection.

The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held by the people during the night just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas.

In the first reading on Holy Thursday we hear the Passover scripture from Exodus 12:14  "This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall  celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance." The Seder Meal continues to be still celebrated by the Jewish people and Christians to this day. For information on the Seder you may visit this link: https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/116793/jewish/Passover-Seder-Step-by-Step.htm