Do you have a voracious reader in the family? Or, are you just looking for something uplifting to suggest to your children? This Deep Dive encourages families or individuals to grow in holiness through reading. 

There are many great books that have been written to help us grow in holiness. Some are retellings of classical Bible stories or the lives of saints. Others are some of the great works of literature that have been loved by readers of all ages. Read through one of the many suggested books, or pick one of your own! Then, spend time together as a family to discuss how the book helped you learn and think about our faith. Use these instruction to do so!  

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A pilgrimage is a journey religious people take to a holy place or a place of religious significance. Going on pilgrimage is a long-standing tradition in the church. The earliest pilgrims travelled to the Holy Land to visit the sites of Jesus' life. Today there are numerous sites throughout the world that draw pilgrims.

Did you know that there many such sites right here in Massachusetts and New England? Travel with your family to any of these nearby sites at anytime to complete a Pilgrimage Deep Dive. A list of suggested sites with ideas for what to do once you are there can be found below. Interested in "spiritually touring" a more famous but perhaps further away site? Another list with suggested virtual pilgrimages and how to engage with these sites from afar is also included. Blessed travels! 

Nearby Pilgrimage Sites
Virtual Pilgrimages          
Reflection                             

Hear Scripture or the lives of the saints brought to life in bold and inspiring audio dramas that take storytelling to a whole new level. Dozens of accomplished, award-winning actors bring characters to life, and cinematic sound and music will quicken the imagination. A wide variety of audio dramas are available through our collaborative's subscription to FORMED click on this link for directions on how to access this great resource. Once you are in go to audio dramas, pick a drama that is of most interest to you and start listening! These can be a great activity for car journeys, while working on chores, etc. Or gather round to listen in comfy clothes with lots of blankets and snacks like in the days of yore. Dive in to one of these  unforgettable experiences that will inspire your heart and stir your soul today! After you've listen have a conversation as a family about what you heard and learned. 

Subscribe to FormedReflection                      

There are many great films that have been made sharing the Christian message. Spend an evening together as a family watching one of these films and having a discussion about how the film helped you learn and think about our faith. Use the attached directions to hold your own Family Faith Film night on your own or invite some friend over to share in the viewing and discussion! 
(NOTE: Watching The Chosen at home as a family and discussing it also falls under this Deep Dive even if it isn't a movie)
Directions
Reflection

Have you ever noticed just how many of the stories of Jesus center around or involve food? Have you ever wondered about just what exactly the food was like in Jesus' time or why food is part of so many Bible stories? Well find out via a Jesus Feast! Serve food that Jesus and His followers may have eaten while diving into a Biblical story featuring food. Use these instruction to do so!  

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Does your family have a favorite saint? Is there a saint that has historically been important in your family in past generations? We encourage you to remember and honor this saint with a dinner on their feast day! Intentionally schedule and plan a family meal to celebrate this saint. Do some quick internet research to find out a little about the saint: the date of their feast day, their patronage(s), and what culture they came from. Then, prepare a meal accordingly, and spend some of the dinner discussing that saint and sharing stories about him/her. Don't forget to conclude the meal asking for his/her intercession "St. ______, pray for us." 

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In honor of the Feast of All Saints (Nov 1st) we encourage you to remember these holy men and women through this fun at home craft. Pick your favorite saint(s) and decorate a soda bottle in their likeness following these directions.  Then, drop off your creations at the parish offices so "all the saints can come marching in" to the bulletin so the entire parish can appreciate them! Soda bottle saints must be dropped off by November 8th to make it into the bulletin photo.

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The month of November begins with two beautiful celebrations in our faith, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. All Saints' Day commemorates those already in heaven with Our Lord, and All Souls' Day remembers those on the journey to heaven through purgatory. We encourage you and your family to celebrate both of these feasts through the Mexican tradition Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Use these instructions to do so!  

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Does your family have a nativity to set up for Advent and Christmas? These displays, also called manger scenes or crèches, are great ways to keep the heart of Christmas in your home.  This Deep Dive presents a simple way for you and your family to create your own nativity. Use these instruction to do so!  

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The Stations of the Cross are proudly displayed in our Churches, and are often found outdoors at pilgrimage sites. These displays are visual aids to help us in praying this beautiful devotion, most often during the Lenten season (though they can be prayed year-round too). But, did you know that you can add the Stations of the Cross to your home? This Deep Dive presents a simple way for you and your family to create your own personal aid to praying the Stations of the Cross at home.  Use these instruction to do so! 

REFLECTION

All of us are called to "full and active participation" in the Mass, whether we are just someone in the pews or if we have a named role. However, some of us may wish to participate in other ways beyond what we normally do. If this applies to you and your family, consider volunteering to be a greeter or gift bearer at whichever Mass you normally attend. Are you an outgoing family that would love to welcome other families as they enter the Church, or would you prefer to participate in the offertory in a unique way by bringing the bread and wine to the altar? Feel free to sign-up for either (or both!) of these simple ways to participate more fully in the Mass and the community.

Reflection

While this took place before the formal start of the new Faith Formation year, you can be assured that this Collaborative wide event counts as a Deep Dive. This communal gathering that begins with the celebration of the Holy Mass certainly meets the community building and spiritual nourishment requirements of a Deep Dive. So, if your family attended the Collaborative picnic, congratulations, you already have one Deep Dive done for the year. Bonus points if you volunteered in some capacity.

Reflection

Blessing of the Animals Deep Dive

St. Francis of Assisi is a 13th century saint, who among other things, is associated with care for Creation. He is said to have preached to the birds and made treaties with wolves. He also composed a prayer dedicated to the glory of the natural world entitled, “Canticle of Creation.” Bringing animals to be blessed is a way of acknowledging that what God has made is good and to thank God for pets or working animals that have improved our lives. The Blessing of the Animals recognizes that many animals were created by God to play a role in human existence. While a Blessing of Animals may be done on any day, it is a long-standing tradition to hold a Blessing of the Animals on October 4th, the official feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

What Happens at Blessing of the Animals?

The Order for the Blessing of Animals allows for some adaptability depending on the circumstances of the place and people involved in the rite. However, the following elements are usually present:

Why Should We Participate in the Blessing of the Animals?

There are many reasons to participate in the Blessing of the Animals as a family! However, here are just two. First, both gratitude and petition are important parts of the Christian life. We should thank God for the many ways we have been blessed in our lives. We also should turn to God with those things we want or need. By participating in the Blessing of the Animals, we are in a particular way thanking Him for the joy and help a particular pet or working animal has brought to our lives, and asking that He watch over them. Second, our faith should infuse every area of our life. As our Family Faith Formation motto—“Uniting the Heart of the Church with the Heart of the Home”—proposes, we should always be looking for ways to make our daily lives holy. Bringing animals to our parish to be blessed is a great way of sanctifying something as seemingly ordinary as a family pet.

• Introductory Rites: This may include singing a suitable song before the minister greets those present and begins in prayer. The prayer will focus on the connection between humans and animals and the role various animals have played in salvation history both physically, such as ravens bring bread to Elijah and spiritually, such as Christ being our Paschal Lamb.
• Scripture Reading: Generally one of the accounts of Creation from Genesis will be read, but other Old Testament readings that focus on the relationship between man and beast, such as the account of Noah and the Ark, may also be read. Any of these readings will convey the message that Creation is good and benefits man, as well as highlighting man’s role as steward of Creation.
• Responsorial Psalm: A psalm that praises God for the wonders of Creation is read or sung. The psalm celebrates not just the animals about to be blessed, but all that is good and beautiful in the natural world.
• Intercessions: A series of prayers are read. These prayers focus on thanking God for how humans have been blessed by Creation and asking for continued blessings 
• Prayer of Blessing: The minister then extends his hands over the animals present and prays that they will continue play a helpful role for humanity. After the prayer, the minister may sprinkle those present— yes, the animals too—with holy water.
• Concluding Rite: The minister dismisses the people with a prayer and, as with the introductory rites, a suitable song may be sung.

The youth (and adults) of St. John’s, St. Margaret's, and St. Mary’s are invited to join us for a hike up a mountain in New Hampshire on our annual hike. In addition to the beautiful views that any mountain hike offers, Fr. Brian will celebrate Mass at the peak. Deadline to RSVP is October 7th. Drivers and Chaperones needed! 

RSVP
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Living Rosary

Faith Fire

Holy Souls Prayer Stroll

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. It is a time in the Church year when we especially remember the deceased and pray for their entrance into Heaven. We will be gathering at St. Joseph’s Cemetery (96 Riverneck Rd, Chelmsford) to pray for the deceased, especially those who have no one to remember them. We will learn more about this wonderful tradition, along with some of the rich prayers given to us by the saints to pray for those awaiting Heaven.

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RSVP
 

Lasagna Ministry: Making Desserts
Come to an evening to learn about and support our wonderful Lasagna Ministry (and those they serve). We will not be making lasagnas as they are very particular about their lasagna recipes, but we will make the cookies that will go with the lasagnas for dessert.

RSVP
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Adoration for Young Children

November is the month when Catholics traditionally recognize their beloved dead.  We begin the month by celebrating the Feast of All Saints on November 1st, which celebrates all souls that have reached Heaven. Then on November 2nd we observe All Souls where we pray for all of the faithful departed. During this month in our collaborative we celebrate a special liturgy in honor of those whose funerals were celebrated at our parishes during the past year, as well as lost loved ones of anyone present. Please see the bulletin throughout the month of October for submitting the names your loved ones for these liturgies.
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Taize prayer is a form of Christian music and meditation originating from a small religious community in France that has now spread worldwide. It combines song, prayer, chant, and mediation in a candlelit setting. Please join us for this peaceful and prayerful evening! No prior experience with this form of prayer is required.

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Advent Retreat
presented by Fr Patrick

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Advent Posada

Join us for an evening of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament geared towards families. The evening will include an introduction to Adoration for newcomers, explaining the traditions and customary prayers in bite sized pieces. There will also be a mix of instrumental and vocal music throughout the evening. The December evening will focus on the season Advent, while the April evening will focus on the season of Lent.

Reflection

Children's Christmas Musical "Straight Outta Bethlehem"

REFLECTION

A cantata is a medium-length narrative piece of music for voices with instrumental accompaniment, typically with solos, chorus, and orchestra. In layman's terms, it is songs with narrative interludes. The Christmas Cantata will, naturally be focused on the narrative of the Incarnation. The cantata is an excellent way to contemplate the Christmas season. 

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Lessons and Carols

What is a Lesson?

Typically, each Lesson in a Lesson and Carols service consists of 4 things: 
       a reading from Scripture, a carol or hymn, a prayer, periods of silence.

• Scripture Reading: Each lesson begins with a reading from Scripture. The readings selected for each Lesson will all touch on the coming of Christ as the Messiah. Readings regarding The Fall point towards the need for a Messiah. Readings from Old Testament prophets serve as reminders that a Messiah was long promised and foretold. Readings from the Gospels show how Christ fulfills the role of Messiah.
• Carol or Hymn: After the reading, a carol or hymn is sung that reflects the message of the readings just heard. Generally, a mix of Advent hymns and Christmas carols will make up the bulk of music selections for the evening.
• Prayer: Finally, a brief prayer gathering the wisdom of that Lesson, and often asking of God a related blessing, is said.
• Periods of Silence: Periods of silence interspersed throughout each lesson, allow those present the time and space to reflect on the meaning of the Lesson, what God might be trying to communicate, and how the Lesson might apply to daily life.

Why Should we Participate in Lessons and Carols?

For many people today, December is an incredibly busy, noisy, and stressful time of year. This is particularly true for families. It can be easy to let Advent rush by in a flurry of activity that has little or nothing to do with Christ. Lessons and Carols is a beautiful way to step out of all that hustle and bustle and take some time and space to prepare one’s heart for the coming of Christ at Christmas. The reflective nature of Lessons and Carols offers calm and quiet—two things in short supply in our world—and the chance to focus on God and remember the true meaning of this holy season.  

Crossover Night

Bring in the New Year with He, who REALLY matters... the King of peace and of all time!
A wonderful opportunity to review the past year and make room for improvements for the coming one.

REFLECTION

Merrimack Valley Ringers

Candle Crafting

What does line dancing have to do with Catholicism?
If you are wondering this, you should come to our line dancing night! There is a lot that can be learned from this structured form of dance, and you can have a good time while doing it. Fun for all ages, and open to all, regardless of talent or experience. 

  REFLECTION      

 RSVP           

Fun and Games!

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of Lent. In Lent, Catholics focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in order to re-orient our lives to Christ so as to better celebrate His Resurrection on Easter. The ashes on placed on our foreheads on this day remind us that we are sinners in need of a savior. The cross shape reminds us that we have been saved by the Cross of Christ. 
 
MASS SCHEDULE
   REFLECTION          

Lent Retreat
presented by Fr Patrick

Soup and Stations of the Cross

This popular Lenten devotion will be offered on a rotating basis at our parishes every Friday of Lent. 
We will begin with Stations of the Cross at 6 pm, and then enjoy soup and sharing.

• RSVP Needed? No
• Guide and Reflection Needed? Yes. Below you will find both printable and online versions of our Guide and Reflection. They will also be provided at each event. As a family, please review the information found in the Guide before participating, and after completion, submit the Reflection [link below].

REFLECTION             
PRINTABLE GUIDE

Friday, March 14 at St. Mary
Friday, March 21 at St. Margaret of Scotland
Friday, March 28 at St. John the Evangelist
Friday, April 4 at St. Mary
Friday, April 11 at St. Margaret of Scotland

What are the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross began with pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the steps of Jesus the day before His death. As they followed this path there were many places where it was customary to stop in order to reflect and pray about a particular moment in Jesus’ final hours. These stops became known as Stations. In the 15^th century, Franciscan friars, who had been granted guardianship of the Holy Land, began working on ways that those who unable to travel to the Holy Land could observe this devotion more locally. These began as a series outdoor shrines of an indeterminate number but by the 19^th century had evolved to the 14 icons found in most Catholic churches today. While the Stations can be prayed through at any time, communal observance of the practice is common during Lent, particularly on Fridays.

How are the Stations of the Cross Prayed?

There are many different options for praying the Stations of the Cross but all involve moving from depiction to depiction, stopping at each to pray and reflect on that moment in Christ’s Passion.

The Traditional Stations of the Cross are as follows:

1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus carries His cross
3. Jesus falls for the first time
4. Jesus meets His mother, Mary
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls for the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls for the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His clothes
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus is placed in the tomb

In 2007, Pope Benedict also approved at Scriptural Way of the Cross:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
4. Jesus is denied by Peter
5. Jesus is judged by Pilate
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
7. Jesus takes up his cross
8. Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
10. Jesus is crucified
11. Jesus promises his kingdom to the repentant thief
12. Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other
13. Jesus dies on the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Why Should we Participate in the Stations of the Cross?

Praying the Stations of the Cross is a powerful way to remember just how great a gift Jesus has given us. By reflecting on key moments of suffering from Christ’s Passion we are better able to appreciate just how much He loves us and what He was willing to undergo for our sakes. Taking time to recount Jesus’ sacrifice by praying the Stations of the Cross is both a way of showing our gratitude to God for that sacrifice and a way of opening ourselves up to how He may be calling us to respond to that sacrifice.

Spring Training

There’s plenty of wonderful blues and gospel songs in our sacred music repertoire and so many of them embrace Lenten themes of redemption, penance and mercy—“I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see” sums them up pretty succinctly.  So we’re going to put a bunch of these songs together into Lent Blues: Hymns and Psalms for the Lenten Journey. Hope to see you there!

 
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BITS (Basic Items for Toddler Success) Bags

A cantata is a medium-length narrative piece of music for voices with instrumental accompaniment, typically with solos, chorus, and orchestra. In layman's terms, it is songs with narrative interludes. The Palm Sunday Cantata will, naturally be focused on the themes of Holy Week. The cantata is an excellent way to contemplate the Easter season. 

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What is Tenebrae?

Tenebrae is a prayer service held during Holy Week, today most commonly on Spy Wednesday. Tenebrae takes its name from the Latin word for darkness as it is characterized by the gradual extinguishing of candles. 

What Happens at a Tenebrae service?

Tenebrae is a very simple service that consists of alternating readings from Scripture (often with an accompanying hymn) with periods of silence. Throughout the service candles are extinguished so that the light in the church gradually diminishes until it finishes in near darkness. As Tenebrae is typically observed right before (or during) Holy Thursday and Good Friday, this increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Christ’s death and communicates grim and hopelessness of a world without God. At the end of the service, in near or total darkness, a strepitus, or loud noise, is made in startlingly contrast to the quiet nature of the service up until this point. The strepitus is meant to call to mind either the earthquake that occurred at Jesus’ death, or the sound of His tomb closing. Worshippers then leave in silence and are called to reflect on His death for the next few days, until they can celebrate His Resurrection on Easter.        

Why Should we Participate in Tenebrae?

Tenebrae is one of more somber services in Christianity. It acknowledges not just the darkness and sorrow that accompanied Jesus’ death, but also the darkness and sorrow present in our world today. Having a service that focuses on this offers a chance to contemplate how bleak the world would be without Christ; an important reminder during the holiest week of the year. It offers a stark contrast to the light and joy experienced in Easter celebrations. Having that contrast in mind can make both more meaningful.  

On the night we remember the Last Supper, join the Knights of Columbus for supper. The Knights of Columbus will be making pancakes for dinner for anyone who would like to come before Holy Thursday Mass. Dinner will be preceded by a brief period of prayer in the Church at 5 before heading down to the hall for pancakes and plenty of syrup.  When you finish eating, you can head back upstairs to the Church for Mass at 7. Remember to eat your fill since Friday is a day of both abstinence from meat and fasting!

What is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper?

The Pascal Triduum begins on Holy Thursday with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This liturgy commemorates Jesus’ last supper with His apostles before His arrest and crucifixion. In this Passover meal Jesus instituted both the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood. He also gave the commandment of love for one another through service. All three, the Eucharist, the priesthood, and the call to loving service are emphasized in particular ways in the Holy Thursday Mass.  

What Happens at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper?

The first thing one may notice, before Mass even begins, is that the Tabernacle is empty. Enough bread will be consecrated this night for everyone gathered, as well as enough for those attending the following day’s Good Friday service. The empty Tabernacle serves as a reminder on this night when we celebrate the very first time Christ offered Himself in the Eucharist that there was a time where there was no Eucharist.

As Mass begins, the Gloria is sung for the first time since the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The return of this song, which we have been fasting from during Lent, marks this Mass as an occasional of joy and celebration as we memorialize Jesus giving us the great gifts of the Eucharist and the priesthood.

In the Liturgy of the Word we hear: a description of the original Passover celebration (1^st Reading), a song of thanksgiving (Responsorial Psalm), St. Paul’s account of the Last Supper and the first Eucharist (2^nd Reading), and St. John the Evangelist’s account of Jesus washing His apostles’ feet (Gospel Reading).

After the homily there will be the Washing of the Feet. The priest removes his outer vestments and then washes the feet of a group of the faithful who have been chosen to represent the community. This action echoes Jesus’ washing of His apostles’ feet at the Last Supper. “In performing this rite Bishops and priests are invited to intimately conform themselves to Christ who ‘came not to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:28),” (In Missa In Cena Domini) and all are reminded of the baptismal call to follow His example.   

The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds as usual.

After Communion the Blessed Sacrament is processed to the Altar of Repose. This procession usually consists of clergy, along with the servers, leading the faithful with the cross, incense and candles to a place outside of the main church adorned for the Blessed Sacrament. While processing, a traditional Eucharistic hymn, such as Pange Lingua is sung. When the procession reaches the altar of repose Tantum Ergo is sung as the priest incenses the Blessed Sacrament. The tabernacle is then closed and the faithful are invited to spend some time in prayer and adoration, “keeping watch” until later in the evening. As once explained by Pope Benedict XVI, “[During the] Eucharistic procession on Holy Thursday, when the Church repeats the exodus of Jesus from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives. … It is the authentic desire of the Church in prayer to keep watch with Jesus, not to abandon him in the night of the world, on the night of betrayal, on the night of the indifference of many people.” At midnight the Chapel of Repose is closed and Church turns her attention from keeping watch to reflecting on Christ’s Passion on Good Friday.

After the Blessed Sacrament has been processed to the Altar of Repose the stripping of the Altar begins. The altar cloths are removed from the altar and anything that can be reasonably moved out of the sanctuary is removed (flowers, decorations, candles, furniture, etc.). Remaining statues and crosses are covered with red or purple veils. The resulting bare sanctuary is meant as a sign of mourning and serves to remind the faithful that Jesus was once stripped of His garments and on the night of Passover, abandoned and left alone.  

Why Should we Participate in Holy Thursday?

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper marks the start of the Easter Triduum. Although involving three services on three days, (The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday) the Triduum is considered a single celebration and is the summit of the Liturgical Year. These liturgies are both beautiful and powerful. As each is only offered once in each community, they are a tremendous opportunity for the whole community of the faithful to gather and worship together in a heightened way. Special attention has gone into the planning and preparing for these liturgies often making them very moving experiences for those who attend. On Holy Thursday we particularly celebrate God’s gifts of the Eucharist and the priesthood and reminded of Christ’s great sacrificial love for us.      

What are the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross began with pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the steps of Jesus the day before His death. As they followed this path there were many places where it was customary to stop in order to reflect and pray about a particular moment in Jesus’ final hours. These stops became known as Stations. In the 15^th century, Franciscan friars, who had been granted guardianship of the Holy Land, began working on ways that those who unable to travel to the Holy Land could observe this devotion more locally. These began as a series of outdoor shrines of an indeterminate number but by the 19^th century had evolved to the 14 icons found in most Catholic churches today. While the Stations can be prayed through at any time, communal observance of the practice is common during Lent, particularly on Fridays. 

There are many different options for praying the Stations of the Cross but all involve moving from depiction to deception, stopping at each to pray and reflect on that moment in Christ’s Passion. In this year’s Youth-Led Stations, at each station we will hear from a figure present at Jesus’ Passion. Then we will be invited to reflect and pray for a particular need related to that station. Below you will find a list of the Station, along with the figure who will speak…

1. Jesus is Condemned to Death: Pilate
2. Jesus Carries His Cross: Bystander
3. Jesus Falls for the First Time: Bystander
4. Jesus Meets His Mother, Mary: Mary
5. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross: Simon
6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus: Veronica 
7. Jesus Falls for the Second Time: Bystander
8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem: A Woman of Jerusalem
9. Jesus Falls for the Third Time: Bystander
10. Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes: Roman Solider
11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross: A Disciple
12. Jesus Dies on the Cross: A Roman Solider
13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross: Joseph of Arimathea
14. Jesus is Placed in the Tomb: Joanna

Praying the Stations of the Cross is a powerful way to remember just how great a gift Jesus has given us. By reflecting on key moments of suffering from Christ’s Passion we are better able to appreciate just how much He loves us and what He was willing to undergo for our sakes. Taking time to recount Jesus’ sacrifice by praying the Stations of the Cross is both a way of showing our gratitude to God for that sacrifice and a way of opening ourselves up to how He may be calling us to respond to that sacrifice. This is particularly true on Good Friday, a day that should be spent in solemn reflection of the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf.

What is the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion?

The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion is the second day of the Pascal Triduum. Good Friday is the only day of the year where Mass is not celebrated, no consecration takes place. Instead of Mass, a simple service consisting of a Liturgy of the Word, Solemn Intercessions, Veneration of the Cross, and Distribution of Communion is offered. This liturgy commemorates the anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion and death, which He offered for humanity’s sake and which allows for salvation.

What Happens at the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion?

Upon entering the church, the faithful will notice the barrenness. The tabernacle is empty; the altar is bare. The previous evening, following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, all ornamentation was removed from the sanctuary. The emptiness is meant to convey feelings of loss and sorrow.

At the beginning of the service the priest and ministers will process into the church in silence. When they reach the foot of the altar, they will prostrate themselves. Prostration, to lie flat on the ground face down, is a posture of complete and total worship.  During this time the faithful kneel, joining in the silent worship of the crucified Christ who gave His life for the salvation of mankind.

In the Liturgy of the Word we hear: Isaiah’s foretelling of a the suffering servant who will give his life as an offering for others (1^st Reading), a hymn of trust in God in the face of trials (Responsorial Psalm), a reminder that Christ chose to share in our suffering (2^nd Reading), and an account of Jesus’ arrest, trial, torture, and execution (Gospel Reading). In the Gospel reading the congregation participates, reading the parts of members of the crowd. This participation, particularly when exclaiming, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” serve as a stark reminder to the people that, as sinners, all share in the responsibility for Christ’s death. The congregation stand as usual for the reading of the Gospel but pauses to kneel in sorrow and awe at the moment of Christ’s death.

The Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Solemn Intercessions. The Deacon offers an invitation to pray for each intention, he will then invite the congregation to kneel and pray silently for a period. At the Deacon’s invitation, the congregation will return to a standing position and the priest will extend his hands and offer the prayer for that intention. The intentions that are prayed for on Good Friday are: The Holy Church, The Pope, For All Orders and Degrees of the Faithful, For Catechumens, For the Unity of Christians, For the Jewish People, For those who do not believe in Christ, For those who do not believe in God, For those in public office, and For those in tribulation.

The Veneration of the Cross follows the Liturgy of the Word. It begins with either the priest or the deacon moving to the back of the church. He then processes up the aisle carrying a large cross that is covered with a purple cloth. Three times during this procession he stops and sings, “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world.” The congregation responds by singing, “Come, let us adore.” At each stop, part of the cross is unveiled. Once the cross has reached the altar and is fully unveiled, the faithful are invited to come forward and reverence the cross. The reverencing of the cross is an expression of gratitude for the sacrifice of God’s own Son and may be done with a kiss, a bow, a touch, etc.

After the Veneration of the Cross, communion is distributed. Although there is no consecration at this service, additional hosts were consecrated on Holy Thursday so that the faithful may still receive the Lord in the Eucharist on Good Friday.

At the end of the liturgy, the ministers and people process out of the church in silence as is fitting for this somber day.     

Why Should we Participate in Good Friday?

The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion is the second part of the Easter Triduum. Although involving three services on three days, (The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday) the Triduum is considered a single celebration and is the summit of the Liturgical Year. These liturgies are both beautiful and powerful. As each is only offered once in each community, they are a tremendous opportunity for the whole community of the faithful to gather and worship together in a heightened way. Special attention has gone into the planning and preparing for these liturgies often making them very moving experiences for those who attend. On Good Friday the Church marks the death of the Lord. She remembers that He suffered the great humiliation and extreme pain of crucifixion for the sake of humankind and that it is His Cross that makes salvation possible.  

What is the Easter Vigil?

The Pascal Triduum culminates with the celebration of the Easter Vigil, which is considered the “greatest and most noble of all solemnities” (Missale Romanum). Four elements make up the Easter Vigil: the Liturgy of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. “On this holy night, the Church keeps watch, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting his return in glory. It is the turning point of the Triduum, the Passover of the new covenant, which marks Christ's passage from death to life.” (USCCB.org)

What Happens at the Easter Vigil?

The Easter Vigil begins outside where the faithful gather around a “blazing fire.” This fire is “is to be prepared so that the people may gather around it and experience the flames dispelling the darkness and lighting up the night. Thus do the beauty of the fire, its warmth and its light, draw the liturgical assembly together” (USCCB.org). Once the people have gathered around the fire, the priest and minister process to it and the priest blesses the fire.
 
Next the Pascal Candle is blessed. The Pascal Candle is a large beeswax candle that symbolizes the light of Christ. It will be lit in the sanctuary during the Easter season, at baptisms, and at funerals throughout the year. To bless the candle the priest first cuts a cross into the wax with a stylus. Then he marks the Greek letter Alpha, Α, above the cross with an Omega, Ω, below it. These first and last letters of the Greek alphabet serve as a reminder that Christ is the beginning and the end of all things. Finally, the priest cuts the numerals of the current year between the arms of the cross.
 
As the priest cuts these symbols he prays: “Christ yesterday and today…” (vertical arm of the cross); “…the beginning and the end…” (horizontal arm); “…Alpha…” (Α, above cross); “…and Omega…” (Ω, below); “…all time belongs to Him…” (1^st numeral, upper left corner of the cross); “…and all the ages…” (2^nd, upper right); “to Him be glory and power…” (3^rd, lower left); “…through ever age for ever. Amen” (4^th, lower right).
 
Next the priest will insert five grains of incense, representing Christ’s five wounds, into the candle in the form of a cross, praying as he does, “By His holy/ and glorious wounds/ may Christ our Lord/ guard us/ and keep us.” Finally, he will light the candle from the fire praying, “May the light of Christ, rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”
 
After the Pascal Candle is blessed and lit the procession into the church begins. The usual order for the procession is the thurifer (incense bearer), the deacon with the lighted Pascal Candle, the priest, and then the people holding unlit candles. At three points during this procession there will be a pause during which the deacon proclaims in song, “Christ our Light” and the people respond, “Thanks be to God.” This first takes place at the door of the Church, after which the priest lights his candle. The second is in the middle of the church, after which the assembly light their candles. The third is before the altar facing the people. The Pascal Candle is then placed in prominent place in the church, incensed, and the lights of the church, except for the altar candles, are lit.  

Following the procession, the Exsultet or the Easter Proclamation is sung, generally by a deacon. The Exsultet is a great and ancient hymn. It powerfully proclaims God’s saving work throughout history and its culmination in Christ’s defeat of sin and death and the victory of His Resurrection. The Exsultet emphasizes in words and music what the growing presence of light in the liturgy has thus far communicated, that the light of Christ has banished all darkness. 

At this point, the service moves into the Liturgy of the Word. In the Easter Vigil the Liturgy of the Word is dramatically expanded with nine readings total, eight readings from the Old Testament, an epistle reading from the New Testament, and a Gospel reading. Each non-Gospel reading is followed by a sung responsorial psalm and a prayer led by the priest. Before the reading of the epistle the Gloria is sung, at which point the altar candles are lit. Before the reading of the Gospel the Alleluia is sung for the first time since Lent began. The length of the Easter Vigil’s Liturgy of the Word allows the faithful to hear the great story of God’s immense love for us since the beginning of time. Those gathered experience the magnificent scope of salvation history and appreciate how it was always meant to lead to Jesus Christ.
 
After the Liturgy of the Word comes the Liturgy of Baptism, where new members of the Body of Christ are initiated and welcomed into the Church. The catechumens are called forward to be presented by their godparents. After they are presented, they are processed, led by the Pascal Candle and followed by the priest, through the church to the baptismal font. While they process the Litany of the Saints in sung.
 
The priest then blesses the baptismal waters, by praying over the waters with his hands extended. He then lowers the Paschal Candle into the waters three times saying, “May the power of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, we pray, come down through your Son into the fullness of this font, so that all who have been buried with Christ by Baptism into death may rise again to life with him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
 
After the baptismal waters have been blessed the catechumens are questioned regarding their desire for baptism and give a profession of faith. They then are baptized. Having received baptism, they are given a white garment and a baptismal candle. These represent the purity of their souls and the light of Christ that has been granted to them through baptism. Immediately following, newly baptized adults receive Confirmation. Later this evening, the now neophytes, will receive their first Eucharist, thus completing their initiation into the Church. Following these Baptisms and Confirmations all gathered renew their baptismal promises with lit candles in hand and are sprinkled with the baptismal waters.

 
The last part of the Easter Vigil, The Liturgy of the Eucharist proceeds in the usual way.
 
Why Should we Participate in the Easter Vigil?

 The Easter Vigil is the last part of the Easter Triduum. Although involving three services on three days, (The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday) the Triduum is considered a single celebration and is the summit of the Liturgical Year. These liturgies are both beautiful and powerful. As each is only offered once in each community, they are a tremendous opportunity for the whole community of the faithful to gather and worship together in a heightened way. Special attention has gone into the planning and preparing for these liturgies often making them very moving experiences for those who attend. The Easter Vigil is the high point of the Easter Triduum and the greatest liturgy of the Church calendar. It has an abundance of images, rituals, gestures, litanies, processions, and stories, all designed to connect us to the awesome power of God and the depth of His love for us. 

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which concludes the Octave of Easter. It is based on the private revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska, which recommended a particular devotion to the Divine Mercy. In 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina and, during the ceremony, he declared: "It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called "Divine Mercy Sunday." Come find out more about this feast day and devotions that celebrate the Lord's mercy. 

REFLECTION

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