Once again I quote the Ordo  (the official guide for Catholic worship).  It says: "Since Christ accomplished His work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God, principally through His Paschal mystery, in which by dying He has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life, the sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord shines forth as the high point of the entire liturgical year."  The passage concludes by indicating the preeminence that Sunday has in the week and the Easter Triduum has in the liturgical year.

It is clearly stated in the Ordo how important it is for the Faithful to come together to celebrate ALL the liturgies of the Triduum as far as their health and state in life will allow.  If you have not made it a priority in your life to participate in the whole of the Triduum, I pray this year you will.  The blessings for your life and faith and for the community of faith, will be great.

Please note that we will NOT have a public recitation of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday so as to not detract from the primary liturgy of the day at 6:30 p.m.  Anyone who wants to come early (6:00 p.m.) on Friday can pray together the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena.  All are welcome to come to church ANYTIME during the Triduum to pray the Stations or any other prayers on your own.

I offer the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Good Friday at the following times:  11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:00-2:00 p.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Please also be encouraged to stay after the Holy Thursday Mass and spend some time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or return to do so during the night.  If you need the code to enter the church after 10:00 p.m., please note that it is 5-3-1 on the keypad on the left front door of church.

Last week I indicated that I would dedicate the next two columns to the upcoming Easter Triduum, which begins Holy Thursday evening and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday.  I must say that I feel overwhelmed as I try to speak about the Triduum and do it justice in two columns.  Since it is impossible to go in to the many unique aspects of the liturgies of the Triduum, perhaps I need to state some things in general about the Triduum, and its liturgies that may surprise you.  Firstly, the liturgical assembly during the Triduum is NOT engaged in acts of historical reconstructions that recreate scenes in places like the "Upper Room", "Calvary" and "at the tomb".  These liturgies are not meant to lead us to "imagine" ourselves being actually present at these events.  It is precisely because the events of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection are historical, that they cannot be repeated or reenacted.  What once happened in "history" has passed over into "mystery".  We celebrate primarily NOT what once happened to Jesus, but what is now happening among his faith-filled people.  We celebrate God taking possession of our hearts at their deepest core, recreating us as a new community broken for the world's life - rich in compassion, steadfast in hope, and fearless in the search for justice and peace.  (I took excerpts from the Ordo which speaks about the Triduum to instruct you on the Triduum).

The whole of the Triduum is meant to connect our lives where we are and where we need to be going - to that of Jesus and transforming power of His life, death and resurrection.  The Triduum has a "power" that can strengthen our witness of Jesus as Lord and bring us a peace that comes from faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord.  Come experience it!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR__________________________?

This question could be asked about many things including important activities like a vacation, or the Super Bowl, or the Easter Triduum.  The Easter Triduum (April 17-20) is the highlight and climax of the whole Church year.  It involves one long liturgical celebration that begins on Holy Thursday evening and concludes with the end of the Easter Vigil Service on Holy Saturday night.  There are, of course, long pauses in this liturgical celebration (Thursday night to Friday evening and Friday evening to Saturday night) which provides opportunity for us to ponder and grow in appreciation of the significance of the Paschal Mystery, the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This can happen if the "usual" activities of life are reduced - if not completely - at least greatly, and some of those waking hours spent at Church (with unique public prayer opportunities), and in what we choose to do at home by ourselves and/or with others.  I bring this up now (less than three weeks from the start of the Triduum) so all of us can pray that we and all of our fellow Catholics will be committed to make these the holiest days of the year for us, as the fruit of our Lenten practices and disciplines.

I will use my column in the next few weeks to speak more about the Triduum.  Please take the time to read and reflect upon it and grow in anticipation of the Triduum and all that it offers to us in our journey with the Lord.

I hope you will put these times on your calendar now.

Holy Thursday	April 17 6:30 p.m.	Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday	April 18 6:30 p.m.	Passion of the Lord and Veneration of the Cross
Easter Vigil	April 19 8:30 p.m.	Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Renewal of Baptismal Promises, Liturgy of the Eucharist