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Holy Thursday, March 29 Morning Prayer at 8:15 AM Mass at 7:00 PM – Incense will be used Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 8PM-12AM Good Friday, March 30 Day of fasting and abstinence Morning Prayer at 8:15 AM Stations of the Cross at 3:00 PM Passion of the Lord at 7:00 PM

Holy Saturday, March 31 Morning Prayer at 9:00 AM Easter Vigil at 9:00 PM – Incense will be used Easter Sunday, April 1 Mass at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM *Incense will be used at the 10:30 AM Mass

Three Sacred Days:  Triduum 2018

The Triduum (Latin for three days) are the most sacred days of the year for us.  Instead of daily Mass on Thursday or Friday of this unique week, known as Holy Week, Morning Prayer will be offered at 8:15 and on Holy Saturday at 9:00.

Day One:  Thursday of the Lord’s Supper at the evening Mass

On this night, we begin our three day celebration withthe Mass of the Lord’s Supper which commemorates the Last Supper.  This Mass is unlike any celebrated during the year!  While the Gloria is being sung, bells are rung.  Bring yours if you wish to ring in the Triduum with glad music.  Once the Gloria is done, no bells are rung until the Easter Vigil.

After the homily comes the washing of the feet.  Anyone is invited to come forth to have their feet washed.  When that is done, the collection will be taken up to benefit our outreach ministries.  In addition the bread and the wine, and the collection for outreach, the sacred oils, blessed by Archebishop Sartain at the Chrism Mass last week, will be presented.  They are the oil of catechumen, oil of the sick, and sacred chrism.

Following communion, the Blessed Sacrament will be solemnly carried to the altar of repose in Read Hall.  You are encouraged to join the processison into the hall,singing Pange Lingua.  The opportunity to spend tie in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament will be provided until midnight.  Night prayer will be said at 11:45.  Think of when Jesus was in the garden.  He asked his diciples to stay awake as he prayed.  Can you come and keep him company?

When leaving tonight, please do silently, keeping in mind the sacredness of this night.

Day Two:  Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Our celebration of the Triduum resumes with the Passion of the Lord at 7 PM.  This is the one day of the year when the Mass is not celebrated!  First comes the Liturgy of the Word, which recounts the Passion accoring to John.  Following the solemn intercessions, everyone present is given the opportunity to come forth to adore the cross.  The evening ends with Holy Communion, which was consecrated the night before.

The church will be open on Friday and Saturday for meditation.

Day Three:  The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

The Easter Vigil, which concludes the Triduum, begins with  the passchal fire and the blessing of the Easter Candle at 9 PM on Saturday evening followed by a procession into the dimly lit church.  Once the Paschal candle is in place, the lights come on to show that the risen Christ has come to dispel the darkness of sin!  This night, we listen to the story of our salvation, recounted through selected scripture passages.  Then, we will witness the elect, Sarah and Christine Kelso, as they are welcomed into our faith through baptism, confirmation and reception of first communion.

Mass on Easter morning will be celebrated at 8 AM and 10:30 AM.

****Incense will be used on Holy Thursday, at the Easter Vigil and at the 10″30 AM Easter Mass.  No incense will be used on Good Friday or at the 8 AM Mass on Easter morning.

Date	Activity	Time
Fri., Dec. 1	Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament	9 AM-9 PM
Sun., Dec. 3	Lessons and Carols	4 PM
Wed., Dec. 6	Taize	7 PM
Fri., Dec. 8	Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day)   Morning Mass   Evening Mass	8:15 AM 7 PM
Mon., Dec. 11	Advent Reconciliation	3-4:30 PM & 6-7 PM
Sun., Dec. 24	Vigil of Christmas   Treble choir Christmas Play   Family Mass   Carol Sing a long   Evening Mass	4 PM 5 PM (incense) 8:30 PM 9 PM  (incense)
Mon., Dec. 25	Christmas Day   Mass	10 AM  (incense free)
Mon., Jan. 1	Feast of Mary, Mother of God   (not a holy day of obligation)   Morning Mass	10 AM

Thanks to all of you who responded to the survey last month regarding ways to strengthen our Faith Formation Program. We received over 185 responses. Book discussion groups was one of the most popular categories that respondents indicated they would like to participate. Over 70 people said they would like to be part of a monthly book discussion group, 59 said they’d like to be part of a weekly Advent book discussion group, and 72 for a weekly Lenten book discussion group.

As a result of this feedback, and since Advent is right around the corner, the Evangelization Council is setting up 3 Advent book discussion groups: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. There will be 4 weekly meetings of these groups during Advent starting on November 29^th.

The first book we’ve chosen to discuss is “Rediscover Jesus” by Matthew Kelly. Father made copies of this book available as a gift to all parishioners last year. In case you missed getting one, there are still a few copies left in the narthex. Each page of this book seems to effortlessly reach into our lives, providing spiritual wisdom and practical insights that help us to know both Jesus, and ourselves, in a new way. All you have to do is read the prologue and you will be instantly drawn in. It will be an ideal book to discuss in a group setting.

If you are interested in joining one of these groups, please fill out your name and contact information, and which group you want to participate in, on one of the signup sheets located on the table in the narthex. Then just drop it in the Book Group basket. The cutoff for signing up is Thursday, November 24^th, Thanksgiving Day.   We are limiting the size of each group to 12 members so that everyone can participate fully in the discussions, so don’t delay in signing up.

Please consider taking advantage of this opportunity to draw closer to our Lord by joining one of these groups. We look forward to your participation.

Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School which will be held from 9AM-Noon on August 8-12.  Please fill out the registration form and turn into the church office.