Here are the details concerning the liturgies that will be celebrated during Holy Week in the parish community which I currently serve.
One of the priests of our diocese died on Friday. For many years, Monsignor Raymond Farrell served the diocese as pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Sault Ste. Marie and as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Sudbury. He was always a man of deep prayer and a mentor to many of the younger priests who currently serve the diocese. It is perhaps fitting then that we should celebrate his funeral on Monday of Holy Week, for this is the week during which the liturgy reminds us most poignantly of the love of Jesus, the love that motivated him to enter triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem, and to enact the gestures of tenderness that speak even more eloquently than any words ever could.
The liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are actually one continuous gathering of God’s people. Beginning at 8:00pm on Thursday evening, we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, remembering the night when he shared perhaps the most tender of moments with his disciples, instructed them to break bread and to share wine: gifts which he transforms even today into his own body and blood. In remembrance of his command to be people of service in his name, we will wash the feet of some of the disciples who will share this meal with us as well. When the liturgy is complete, we will gather in prayer, following the instruction of the Lord to watch and pray until 11:00pm.
On Friday, there will be two liturgies celebrated in this place: the first for children and families beginning at 11:00am and the other beginning at 3:00pm. The true meaning of the liturgy of the Eucharist instituted on Holy Thursday unfolded on Good Friday when Jesus gave his life for us. This is the reason why we gather to remember the day when he showed us how much he truly loves us: even to the point of giving his life for us on the cross.
The youth of the city will lead the outdoor Stations of the Cross beginning outside Saint John’s Anglican church at 5:00pm on Friday. The meditations for the Stations will continue as the procession makes its way to the Pro-Cathedral. There will also be time to meditate on the Stations of the Cross inside the Pro-Cathedral beginning at 7:00pm that evening.
On Holy Saturday, the Church is silent as we remember the time that the Lord lay in the tomb, when the apostles hid in fear, and dared to hope that the promise spoken of by Jesus would indeed come true. As the daylight fades on that day, we will gather in prayer to stand in vigil and to wait for the promise of the Resurrection to be fulfilled. The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30pm outside the church doors and will include a candlelight procession, the blessing of water, and the retelling of the story of our salvation.
In the light of day, the women went to the tomb on that first Easter morning to anoint the body of the Lord. We too will gather on Easter morning to celebrate the fulfillment of our God’s promise: that he would overcome the snares of death and be raised to life again. The Masses for Easter day will be celebrated at 9:00am and at 11:00am, and for fifty days afterward, we will continue to remember and celebrate the Lord’s triumph.
The love of Jesus compels all priests, deacons, indeed all of God's people to be living witnesses of his loving presence among us. It inspires us too to be instruments of his peace. Let us celebrate and give thanks this week for the gift of our faith, and for the gift of those who, like Monsignor Farrell, are examples of faith for us today.
The days to come
One of the priests of our diocese died on Friday. For many years, Monsignor Raymond Farrell served the diocese as pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Sault Ste. Marie and as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Sudbury. He was always a man of deep prayer and a mentor to many of the younger priests who currently serve the diocese. It is perhaps fitting then that we should celebrate his funeral on Monday of Holy Week, for this is the week during which the liturgy reminds us most poignantly of the love of Jesus, the love that motivated him to enter triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem, and to enact the gestures of tenderness that speak even more eloquently than any words ever could.
The liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are actually one continuous gathering of God’s people. Beginning at 8:00pm on Thursday evening, we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, remembering the night when he shared perhaps the most tender of moments with his disciples, instructed them to break bread and to share wine: gifts which he transforms even today into his own body and blood. In remembrance of his command to be people of service in his name, we will wash the feet of some of the disciples who will share this meal with us as well. When the liturgy is complete, we will gather in prayer, following the instruction of the Lord to watch and pray until 11:00pm.
On Friday, there will be two liturgies celebrated in this place: the first for children and families beginning at 11:00am and the other beginning at 3:00pm. The true meaning of the liturgy of the Eucharist instituted on Holy Thursday unfolded on Good Friday when Jesus gave his life for us. This is the reason why we gather to remember the day when he showed us how much he truly loves us: even to the point of giving his life for us on the cross.
The youth of the city will lead the outdoor Stations of the Cross beginning outside Saint John’s Anglican church at 5:00pm on Friday. The meditations for the Stations will continue as the procession makes its way to the Pro-Cathedral. There will also be time to meditate on the Stations of the Cross inside the Pro-Cathedral beginning at 7:00pm that evening.
On Holy Saturday, the Church is silent as we remember the time that the Lord lay in the tomb, when the apostles hid in fear, and dared to hope that the promise spoken of by Jesus would indeed come true. As the daylight fades on that day, we will gather in prayer to stand in vigil and to wait for the promise of the Resurrection to be fulfilled. The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30pm outside the church doors and will include a candlelight procession, the blessing of water, and the retelling of the story of our salvation.
In the light of day, the women went to the tomb on that first Easter morning to anoint the body of the Lord. We too will gather on Easter morning to celebrate the fulfillment of our God’s promise: that he would overcome the snares of death and be raised to life again. The Masses for Easter day will be celebrated at 9:00am and at 11:00am, and for fifty days afterward, we will continue to remember and celebrate the Lord’s triumph.
The love of Jesus compels all priests, deacons, indeed all of God's people to be living witnesses of his loving presence among us. It inspires us too to be instruments of his peace. Let us celebrate and give thanks this week for the gift of our faith, and for the gift of those who, like Monsignor Farrell, are examples of faith for us today.
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