Holy Week

Monday in Holy Week
Confession at 6:00 PM
Mass at 7:00 PM
Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, an act which Judas’ sees as a betrayal of the poor, but Jesus recognizes as an anointing for his coming death and burial. 

Chrism Mass with Bishop Ryan Reed
Tuesday at 10:30 AM
The Chrism Mass is a special service when all the priests in the diocese come together to renew their ordination vows. During this service, the Bishop blesses the holy oils and gives them to all the priests. These oils are used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the coming year. At this service, the Bishop will also consecrate fermentum. This is an ancient practice that serves as an affirmation of unity within the diocese. The Bishop consecrates bread that will be used in all of the churches on Maundy Thursday. This is a sweet and moving service and is one of the great perks of being the cathedral. 

Tuesday in Holy Week
Confession at 6:00 PM
Mass at 7:00 PM
Jesus challenges us to recognize who he really is, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me.”

Wednesday in Holy Week
Confession at 6:00 PM
Mass at 7:00 PM
Judas strikes his bargain to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and then acts innocent at supper with Jesus and His apostles when Jesus says that one of them will betray Him. 

The Sacred Triduum
The Sacred Triduum means the “three holy days.” These three days are the culmination not only of Holy Week but the pinnacle of the Christian year. These 72 hours commemorate the most crucial hours of history: during them, Jesus was engaged in a battle with Satan, sin, and death in order to save us from destruction by these. Just as Jesus “passed over” from death to eternal life, so will His faithful disciples. His victory becomes our victory. The three days of the Triduum move us through the successive moments of the mystery of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. 

Maundy Thursday
Mass at 7:00 PM
Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment and reflects Jesus’ word, “I give you a new commandment.” This is the night Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem for one last supper. This is the night Jesus took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet, manifesting the life of service to which He calls His followers. This is the night Jesus instituted the Eucharist. On this night, Jesus intended for every generation of His followers, through this meal, to enter into the sacrifice He was about to make and be nourished by Him. This is the night Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave Himself into the hands of those who would kill Him. The Maundy Thursday liturgy is one of the most beautiful and profoundly moving of the church’s liturgies. By its end, the glory of its Solemn Mass has given way to silence, and a Church stripped bare. The Blessed Sacrament has been taken to an “Altar of Repose,” representing our Lord’s departure for the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Watch
Saint Mary’s Chapel
9 PM Thursday to 11:30 AM Friday
On this night, Christians for centuries have kept The Watch with our Lord throughout the night, saying “yes” to His question: “Could you not watch with me one hour?” Traditionally, Christians this night have kept a holy hour of prayer. Please consider coming at some point throughout the night to pray before the Altar of Repose in the chapel. There is a sign-up in the narthex. However, no RSVP is necessary. Come and go as you please.  

Good Friday
Mass at 7:00 PM
On this day, Jesus was murdered for us and for our salvation. Good Friday is a day of fasting. The faithful are asked to fast as a way of sharing with Jesus in His suffering. The Good Friday Liturgy is austere and stark. The Gospel is St. John’s account of our Lord’s Passion, and it is sung in three parts. Prayer is offered for the church, the world, and especially those in need so that as we proceed to gaze upon the instrument of our redemption: the cross, we will carry to it the needs of people everywhere. A large wooden cross is brought into the church as the deacon proclaims, “behold the wood of the cross on which was hung the world’s salvation,” and the people respond, “come, let us worship.” The cross is placed before the people, and ancient anthems in praise of the Holy Cross are offered as the faithful look upon it and venerate our crucified Lord. Communion is given from the Sacrament reserved from Maundy Thursday, as no Mass may be celebrated this day. The abrupt ending to the liturgy leaves us with one clear focus - the saving grace of the cross. 

The Great Vigil of Easter
Saturday beginning at 8:00 PM with Bishop Reed Preaching and Celebrating
Holy Saturday is a day of rest and mourning. Jesus’ body was in the tomb as He descended through death into hell to battle for all creation’s salvation. As the sun sets this day, the Lord’s Passover moves to its completion: the Day of the Resurrection arrives! The Great Vigil is the church’s most important of all Christian feasts and liturgies. It is the church’s most ancient way of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection and is celebrated during the night which begins Easter Day. Our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life on this holiest night. Thus the church calls her children throughout the world to come together in vigil, prayer, and celebration. Through the unique liturgy of this feast, we celebrate not only Christ’s Victory but our share in it. The vigil is comprised of four elements:

The Service of Light

The vigil begins outside the church with a fire being kindled and blessed. A very large candle, the Paschal Candle, is lit from this fire. This great candle represents the risen Christ, triumphing over darkness and death; it will burn throughout the fifty days of the Easter Season. The congregation’s candles are lit from the light of this candle, and then all go in procession following the Paschal Candle into the church. The church is dark, like a tomb. Except for the flickering of the candles, the church remains dark until the Mass of the Resurrection. As the people enter, the darkness of the church is pushed back, the power of Christ’s resurrection to overcome death is seen, and we understand the words of St. John, “And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it!” The Service of Light concludes with the chanting ought Exsultet (Rejoice!), an ancient hymn in praise of our Lord’s Passover victory

Salvation History

We hear the record of God’s saving deeds throughout history as we read several Old Testament lessons.

The Baptismal Liturgy

Easter and Holy Baptism are intimately connected. In “going down into the water,” we are joined to Jesus’ death, and in coming up, we are joined to His resurrection. Thus the Vigil proceeds to Baptism and the renewal of Baptismal Vows by all the faithful. For many centuries, this was the only time in the entire year when Baptism was administered. 

The Mass

The Vigil reaches its consummation in the glorious first Mass of the Resurrection. As the bells ring, the celebrant says, “alleluia, Christ is risen,” suddenly the darkness is dispelled as all the lights in the church are lit. The people are invited to bring bells to ring with the church bells joining together in a joyous celebration. Then we hear the news of the risen Christ.  

Easter Day
Mass at 8:30 AM
Mass at 10:30 AM with Bishop Ackerman celebrating
Reception and Easter egg hunt begin in the courtyard after the 10:30 service
The Alleluias repeated again and again throughout the Masses of Resurrection Day signal the beginning of the church’s fifty-day celebration of the resurrection. This celebration culminates on the Day of Pentecost - the day on which our Savior’s life, His Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church. These fifty days are the great Season of the Christian Year, just as Easter Day is the Queen of Feasts.