Lent and Easter Schedule - 2010

Allow the Lenten Season to be a time for personal and family spiritual renewal and growth. And keep our catechumens and candidates in your prayers as they enter the final period of preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Listed below are the Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Mass schedules, as well as other spiritual activities that may help prepare you to renew your baptismal promise at Easter

Daily Schedule During Lent

• Ash Wednesday - Feb 17th -  6:45 & 9:00 AM; 5:45 & 7:30 PM
  
  
• Monday - Friday
  MASS:  6:45 AM and 9:00 AM, Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri - 5:45 pm
  also Wednesday, 7:00 PM
  Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer - 7:15 AM
  
• Also on Fridays  6:30 PM - Soup Supper, 7:30 PM - Stations of the Cross & Benediction
• Saturday
  MASS: 9:00 AM, Liturgy of the Hours, 9:30 AM

Lenten Opportunities for Spiritual Renewal

• Lenten Seasonal Small Christian Communities
• Centering Prayer - Wednesdays 9:45 AM

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2010

Palm Sunday - March 28
     5:30 PM  Saturday Vigil Mass
     7:00 PM  Spanish Mass
     8:00 AM, 10:15 AM, 12 Noon and 6:00 PM

Monday - March 29
     6:45 AM & 9:00 AM  Mass, 5:45 pm Mass
     7:00 PM  Penance Service at Good Shepherd

Tuesday - March 30
     6:45 AM & 9:00 AM  Mass, 5:45 pm Mass
     7:30 PM Penance Service at Blessed Sacrament

Wednesday - March 31
     6:45 AM & 9:00 AM  Mass, 7:00 pm Mass
     9:30 AM  Reconciliation  
     7:00 PM  Mass
     7:00 PM Penance Service at St. Louis
     7:30 PM  Reconciliation at Good Shepherd

The Triduum – a Latin word that means “three days” - is a single celebration of the paschal mystery presented, over three days, under different aspects.  The term Paschal Mystery is used to refer to the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.  It is the core of our faith and the source of our salvation.

These three days are different in format from the regular Sunday Masses we celebrate as a Catholic community.  On Holy Thursday, we share in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which includes a symbolic washing of feet in emulation of Jesus.  We conclude on that evening with the transfer of the Eucharist to the chapel, where we take up the watch in the garden, waiting with the Lord prior to his arrest.

Returning on Good Friday, we enter the bare church in silence and recall the events of the Lord’s Passion.  We venerate the cross of His crucifixion as our means of salvation, and after a simple communion rite we are dismissed in silence to begin the Paschal Fast as we wait at the tomb.  Our fasting continues during Holy Saturday, when no Mass is celebrated and we are to rest, to pray, and to keep watch for the day of resurrection.

Holy Saturday evening we gather for the Easter Vigil, also known as the Nightwatch of the Resurrection, which marks the high point of the Triduum.  This liturgy has recently regained its traditional place as the most important ritual of the year and the principle celebration of Easter.  Beginning with the lighting of the holy fire, the Paschal candle is blessed and Christ our Light enters the darkened church.  During a wonderful and moving 2 hour celebration, we recall our salvation history beginning with Genesis, through Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament to Christ Himself.  Rejoicing in his resurrection, we will welcome into the Good Shepherd community members of the RCIA class as we celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.  Our joy as a community is completed with the celebration of Masses on Easter Sunday when our liturgy and our hearts welcome the risen Lord.  We extend the Easter experience over a 50 day period that will conclude with the feast of Pentecost.

So as Holy Week begins, we invite you to participate in these celebrations that are focused not on what once happened to Jesus over 2,000 years ago but what is happening among us now as a people called to conversion, gathered in faith, and gifted with the Spirit of holiness.  The schedule for the Triduum services is in the bulletin.  Babysitting service is available Holy Thursday and Good Friday evening by making a reservation with Rene at 893-3437.

Holy Thursday - April 1  
     No 6:45 AM or 9:00 AM Mass
     7:30 PM Mass -  Mass of the Lord's Supper
     Reconciliation following Mass,
     Adoration in Chapel after Mass until Midnight

Good Friday - April 2
      No 6:45 AM or 9:00 AM Mass
      3:00 PM  Stations of the Cross- Reconciliation following Stations
      7:30 PM  Passion Liturgy - Reconciliation following Liturgy

Holy Saturday, April 3
     No 6:45 M or 9:00 AM Mass
     9:00 AM  Reconciliation
     4:00-5:00 PM  Reconciliation
     No 5:30 P.M. Mass
     8:00 PM  Easter Vigil (Note: Service is 2 1/2 hours long)

Easter Sunday, April 4
     7:30 AM (Men's Choir), 9:00 AM - (Sunrise (8 AM) Choir with Bells), 10:45 AM, (Noon Choir), 12:30 PM (Spirit Singers) and 6:00 PM (6 PM Choir)