This Sunday, Palm or Passion Sunday, begins Holy Week in the Christian faith. We prepare at this time for the celebrations of the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 11th, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford when Archbishop Blair will be joined by the priests of the Archdiocese to renew their Ordination promises and while at the same time the Archbishop will also bless the sacred oils that are used to carry out the Sacramental Life of the Church.

On Thursday, April 13th, Catholics the world over will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper when we recall Christ’s institution of the Sacred Eucharist—His real pres-ence (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Eucharistic meal). As well we recall that night Christ called for His priesthood to con-tinue for all ages so that the sacramental action of the Church shall be made manifest for all peoples in all times and places. At the end of that Mass, the altar of repose is set up outside of the main church and then the main altar is stripped and the church interior is prepared for Good Friday services. No Mass is celebrated on Good Friday; rather we proclaim the Passion of the Lord at 3 p.m. and offer Holy Communion with the Sacrament that was consecrated the night before at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, along with the veneration of the Cross and the Passion readings.

On Good Friday evening we listen to the Seven Last Words of Christ which is offered by our lectors and musical choirs in a meditative set of readings and beautiful music and song. This hour-long service concludes Good Friday for us. On Saturday at noon there will be a blessing of the food in the Church proper and then we wait in hope for the Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. on Holy Saturday night.

This Vigil of all vigils begins in darkness outside of Russell Hall as I bless and the light the Easter fire and Easter Candle and from the candle all the congregation’s individual candles are lit and we process in darkness to the Exsultet being sung by the cantor telling the story of Human
Salvation. Readings, prayers and the Sacraments of Initiation are offered to those entering the Catholic Church, the celebration of the Eucharist and First Holy Communion with exceptional
music and song. This glorious Easter Vigil prepares the Church for the Easter Sunday Masses and the Easter Season which leads us to the birthday of the Church and celebration of Pentecost on June 4th and the close of the Easter Season.

A Blessed Holy Week and an Easter Season full of Joy!