Holy Week
PALM SUNDAY (March 24): 5pm (Saturday) | 8am | 10am | 12pm | 2pm (Spanish) | 4:30pm | 7:00pm (Spanish)
HSM Passion Play at each English Mass
PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE (March 25): 7pm
HOLY THURSDAY (March 28): 7pm (Bilingual)
GOOD FRIDAY (March 29): 10:30am & 11:30am ( Children’s Journey to the Cross) | 3pm (Stations of the Cross in Main Church) | 4pm (LIVE Spanish Stations of the Cross**) | 5pm (Spanish Good Friday Service) | 7pm (English Good Friday Service)
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HOLY SATURDAY (March 30): 8pm (Bilingual Easter Vigil)
EASTER (March 31): 6am | 8am | 10am | 10am* | 12pm | 2pm (Spanish) | 4:30pm | 7pm (Spanish)
*denotes Assembly Room
**Courtyard weather permitting
+ There will be no confessions on March 26 at night, March 27 at noon, and March 28-31.
+ Perpetual Adoration Chapel will be closed Thursday March 28th at 5 pm until 11:59 pm March 30th (right after Easter Vigil Mass).
Are you interested in learning more about HOLY WEEK?
Below, we walk through what you will see during Holy Week in the Catholic context. Here you will read a brief explanation of what is Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter.
In particular, the Easter Vigil — the Mass in which those who have not been baptized formally enter into the Catholic Church — has been an important part of the Christian celebration of Easter since the Apostolic Age. It is a Mass that begins in darkness and ends with the lighting of candles, signifying hope and new life. The symbolism of this ritual carries a deep meaning and can strongly affect your five senses.
What happens
Holy Thursday holds a special level of significance in our faith. It is the day that Jesus celebrated Passover with his Apostles and then instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper. In addition to remembering the Last Supper, we commemorate Jesus' washing of the feet of his disciples on Holy Thursday, which symbolized humility and service.
what to do
Give thanks for the sacraments
Pray for more priest vocations, since today is when Jesus instituted the ministerial priesthood
Spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the Eucharist is celebrated
Sing the Gloria
Once the Eucharist is brought to the Altar of Repose, meditate upon John 13-17
Liturgical highlights
All of our attention given to the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament focuses on the Eucharist consecrated in this Mass, which will be transferred after Holy Communion to an altar of repose. This procession symbolizes Jesus leaving the Upper Room and going to the Garden of Gethsemane.
This will be the last Liturgy of the Eucharist celebrated until the Easter Vigil. While this celebration is joyful due to the Last Supper, it also transitions to one of somber recognition of the beginning of Jesus’ passion. Ceasing the ringing of the bells symbolizes the mourning of the Church, which won’t hear the bells again until the Gloria is sung again on Saturday night.
What happens
On Good Friday, Catholic Christians and Christians around the world remember the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and died for our sins. Jesus willingly gave up his life to atone for the sins of all mankind, thus offering salvation to all. This act of self-sacrifice and unconditional love is the reason why it is indeed a “Good Friday”. It's an occasion to remember what Jesus did out of love and to reflect on our own lives with gratitude and humility. As we enter into the solemn atmosphere of Good Friday, let us remember the significance of His death and be thankful for His ultimate gift of grace and sacrifice.
what to do
Fast and abstain from meat
Join the crowd’s parts in the Gospel
Continue venerating the cross after the conclusion
Place a crucifix prominently in your home
Pray the Stations of the Cross
Liturgical highlights
The liturgy begins in silence with the ministers laying prostrate. The liturgy expresses the sorrow for the death of Christ by having the priests prostrate themselves in front of a stark, barren altar. There is no music or dialogue.
Solemn Intercessions - An ancient part of this liturgy in the Roman Rite. Over a series of ten petitions – each made up of an introduction, an invitation to silent prayer, and a concluding prayer – the People of God pray for the Church and its leaders and ministers, catechumens entering the Church, Christian unity, the Jewish people, those who do not believe in Jesus Christ and/or God, public officials, and people in any tribulation.
Veneration of the cross - The priest will unveil a cross before the altar and venerate it, showing honor to the wood in which Jesus accomplished the salvation of the world. He will then hold it up for everyone to venerate.
There is no Eucharist
This is the only day of the year that the Eucharist is not celebrated. We await the Easter vigil to celebrate the Eucharist again. Holy Communion is given from the hosts that have been reserved from previous Eucharistic celebrations.
What happens
Easter Vigil is the first mass of Easter. It is a time for reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as to recognize his victory over evil. During this solemn yet joyful event, Catholics around the world read Scripture and reflect on the events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. The Mass also includes several meaningful rituals such as lighting candles, singing hymns, baptizing new members into the faith, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Easter Vigil is a time for a renewed commitment to our faith, for remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and for rejoicing in his resurrection.
what to do
Light and hold a candle for the singing of the Exsultet
Be ready for many readings
Sing the Gloria!
Sing the Alleluia!
Renew your baptismal promises
Liturgical highlights
Procession with the Easter candle
Many readings and psalms are read/sung
The Gloria is sung and the bells are rung
The Alleluia is sung
We renew our baptismal promises
We receive into the Church those who have been preparing to become Catholic through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
We celebrate the Eucharist
