Starting this Sunday we enter the most important and solemn time of the year for the Church: Holy Week.
The time from Passion (Palm) Sunday through the end of Lent at the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday evening and the Easter Triduum until the start of the Mass at the Easter Vigil encapsulates the extent of the love that God has for us sinners by sending His Son to suffer and die for those sins and to rise again to show us the pattern we hope to follow in new life.
In addition to the Masses that will be celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 16th, we invite you to join us at at Visitation as well as in the Diocese of Trenton. This can help to open the heart to receiving and appreciating the great gift of the Paschal Mystery. Here is the schedule of events:
In addition to the Masses that will be celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 16th, we invite you to join us at at Visitation as well as in the Diocese of Trenton. This can help to open the heart to receiving and appreciating the great gift of the Paschal Mystery. Here is the schedule of events:
On Monday, April 10th the Chrism Mass, at which the blessing of the holy oils and the sacred Chrism used in the sacraments, will be celebrated at 7:30PM at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Freehold. Bishop David O’Connell is the principal celebrant, assisted by many of the diocesan priests and attended by people throughout the diocese – it is truly a wonderful experience in the solidarity of the local Church of Trenton to see so many turn out in common celebration.
On Holy Thursday, April 13th we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in Visitation church at 7:30PM. This marks the end of Lent and the start of the Easter Triduum (meaning “three days”) commemorating the Paschal Mystery (the suffering, death and resurrection) of Jesus. The Thursday evening Mass observes the Mandatum (the washing of the feet) as we remember Jesus instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, as a parish we formally receive the oils blessed at Monday’s Chrism Mass, and follow with the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Garden of Repose and silent adoration.
On Good Friday, April 14th (a day of fasting and abstinence) the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Death will be held at 3PM in Visitation. This special service (celebration of Masses are forbidden by the Church on Good Friday and on Holy Saturday before the Easter Vigil) vividly recalls Jesus suffering for our sins. Silent veneration of the Cross follows. We will also have a Living Stations of the Cross at 11AM on Friday.
On Holy Saturday, April 15th, we mark the Resurrection with the most glorious celebration of the Church: the Easter Vigil Mass at 8PM. Beginning with the blessing of the Easter fire and the Celebration of Light, we recount the salvation history – of which we are a part – that culminates with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ himself.
Please consider taking part in any or all of these celebrations, as well as the opportunities for 8AM Morning Prayer, 8PM Tenebrae services (the Liturgy of the Hours – the “prayer of the Church”) or the blessing of Food for Easter at 1:30PM on Holy Saturday. There’s so much that happens between Palm and Easter Sunday; make it extra-special this year and be a part of it!
Our FORMED Recommendation for the Week
Course Video: SYMBOLON Session 6: The Paschal Mysteryhttps://formed.org/course/55acfaf3a4addbdc0d490ce1/lesson/54ee3c5c40cc1e74115a5971
You may have noticed a few unfamiliar terms in this article. One of them, "The Paschal Mystery" is a phrase we hear and use in the Mass and sacramental rites. Do we understand what it means in the greater story of Salvation, from the Passover in Egypt to the Last Supper and Crucifixion of Jesus? Find out more in this brief (2 parts - 35 minutes total) presentation hosted by Dr. Edward Sri.
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