I - What is the Holy Week?
* Holy Week is what leads us to the celebration of Easter.
* Starts with Palm Sunday and ends on Saturday (daytime). Once Saturday evening starts, we enter the Easter Season.
* The Triduum is the Latin word for "The Great Three Days" - and they are the last three days before Easter: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.
* We also take advantage of the opportunity to go to confession, in case we have not done so in a while!
II - Palm Sunday
* We commemorate Jesus' arrival to Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.
* He was welcomed like a king.
* We all have palms and receive blessings from the priests with holy water.
III - Holy Thursday
* We commemorate the Last Supper - Jesus' last time he spends time with the disciples before his betrayal, death, and resurrection.
* We also commemorate the Institution of the Eucharist by Jesus himself - read Gospel of John, chapter 13, verses 1-15.
* Lastly, this is a day where priests celebrate their Holy Orders, and they renew their vows to the Church.
IV - Good Friday
* "Good Friday" is the one day of the ENTIRE YEAR where the Church does NOT celebrate Mass. There is commemoration service held, plus other traditions.
* On this day we are called to truly reflect on how out of love to us - God sacrificed His only, for our salvation.
* We abstain from meat, we fast, and we offer little sacrifices and prayers for us and those who know that are in need of prayers.
V - Easter Vigil (Saturday evening)
* We begin in darkness, at sunset, Saturday night.
* The Paschal candle for the 2022-2023 year is lit.
* The priests chant and sing prayers and the Litany of Saints.
* Some people (children and adults) may receive their first Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) and welcomed to the Church.
VI - Easter Sunday
* Jesus has beaten death. Jesus has risen! These are the images the Church uses to remind us the importance of Easter.
* For those who do not attend the Vigil, Easter Sunday lets us know about what happened when Jesus' tomb was found empty. Read the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 1-9.
* The Season of Lent is over and the SEASON of Easter starts and it lasts for close to 50 days, when the feast of Pentecost (the Church's bday) is celebrated.
VII - Traditions
* During Holy Week, our Church has traditions that we are more than encouraged to participate in:
* Palm Sunday - before Mass, we are given palms in order to participate in the "welcoming of Jesus to Jerusalem". Some people make crosses with the palms. The leftovers are burned - these are the ashes that will be used next year on Ash Wednesday.
* Holy Thursday - 12 volunteers are asked to come forward and the priest washes their feet. This is reflecting a sign of service to one another, based on the Gospel reading for Holy Thursday. Also the Blessed Sacrament is taken out of the tabernacle - as a symbol of Jesus' arrest.
* Good Friday - While no Mass is celebrated, there is a special service. Also, the Stations of the Cross are prayed as a community, and all images are covered in the Church. The altar is also stripped and kept barren from Holy Thursday (after Mass) until Easter Vigil.
* Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday - we dress up and we celebrate. Some cultures choose to celebrate with a big meal, gatherings, and simply being thankful. The Church rings the bells and the "Gloria" is sung through the Easter season.
* Reconciliation Monday - all throughout NY (and other states), a date is chosen for ALL Churches to offer the sacrament of Confession. For us - this is call Reconciliation Monday. It is a great way to prepare ourselves for the Triduum and Easter Season. THIS YEAR, IT FALLS ON APRIL 11!
* We PARTICIPATE in the readings of the Gospels as the "Crowd".
HOMEWORK (due by 4/18)
* Participate in some of the Holy Week activities (online or in-person). Check this Sunday's (4/10) bulletin for more information regarding Holy Week schedule: https://www.queenofangelsnyc.org/sites/QOA/Bulletin/Bulletin.pdf
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