Holy Week Overview

Sunday, April 10 at 11:00 am — Basilica
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Teaching Mass
 
Tuesday, April  12 at 7:00 pm —Basilica 
LIVE Stream from St. Joseph Cathedral
Chrism Mass Viewing with Commentary 
During this beautiful celebration at the beginning of Holy Week, the Oil of Catechumens (anointing, protection and strength in life of Baptism), Oil of the Sick (anointing of healing for the sick and the dying) and the Sacred Chrism (anointing of the Holy Spirit leaving the indelible mark on those being Baptized, Confirmed or ordained into Holy Orders) is consecrated by the Bishop. The priests of the Diocese renew our commitment to priestly ministry. Light refreshments will follow.

Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 pm — Oratory of the Sacred Heart, 43 Maple St, Portville
Come and enter into the Paschal Mystery as we hear Jesus’ Words from the Cross—
The Lord Laments  
The Cross is His Pulpit as He prays for us and teaches us forgiveness, gifts us an enduring love from a Heavenly Mother and the Paschal Mystery unfolds in Psalm 22 as He proclaims --   
My God,  My God, why have You abandoned me" . . . 
Join us for fellowship and hospitality afterward with Soups and Bread

Holy Thursday -- Evening Mass -- Basilica
7:00 pm Liturgy of the Lord's Supper 
7:30-11:00 pm Altar of Repose at the Basilica and St. John's
 
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion—April 15
3:00 pm — Liturgy of the Lord's Passion—--St. John’s
6:30 pm — Stations of the Cross and Tenebrae—Basilica
Tenebrae is a unique and special liturgy in the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. During the three days leading up to Easter, also known as the Sacred Triduum, special readings are combined together in a special way, and with ancient structure, forming Tenebrae. As we hear of the Lord’s Passion and Death, candles are extinguished until the service ends in darkness. Tenebrae will be held on the evening of Good Friday as Jesus is in the tomb, in anticipation of the day of light to come.
 
PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. 
Whatever you may do, I thank you: 
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, 
and in all your creatures -
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul: 
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
 and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.
 
Charles de Foucauld
 
Like Jesus, we commend our lives into the Hands of the Father during this Holy Week!
Fr. John