We have begun Holy Week. This weekend we read the Passion of Christ according to St. Luke, remembering the details of Jesus’ journey to the cross. For all of us, this needs to be a week of prayer.
On Tuesday evening, everyone is invited to join Bishop Rhoades for the solemn Chrism Mass at the Fort Wayne Cathedral. The Mass begins at 7 p.m. but you will need to arrive early for a seat. Sacred oils are blessed at this Mass and the priests of the diocese renew their vows. The music will be glorious, with trumpets and tympani adding to the pipe organ and a large choir.
The Triduum begins here at St. Charles at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. After we read the Gospel story of the Last Supper, Fr. James will wash feet and we will celebrate the Eucharist. The liturgy ends with the Blessed Sacrament carried in an outdoor procession to the chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament will remain until 11 p.m. The church will remain open for quiet prayer until Saturday night.
Good Friday is our most somber day of the year. A day of fasting and abstaining from meat, it is a day when our church has been stripped bare. The tabernacle is left empty and open. No Mass is allowed on Good Friday, but our 12:30 Good Friday liturgy will include the reading of the Passion according to John, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion offered from the Hosts consecrated on Thursday.
Stations of the Cross will be offered at 3 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday is also a day of quiet, with no Mass allowed until after dark. At 9 p.m. we will gather outside the church doors for the blessing of the Easter fire and the lighting of the new Easter candle. The darkened church will begin to glow as we spread the flame from that candle and Fr. Bobby sings the Exsultet, a hymn of praise that dates back between the 5th and 7th centuries. We will read important parts of the story of salvation, culminating in the wonder of an empty tomb. Fr. Bobby will bless our baptismal water and then baptize and Confirm 17 people, our newest members of the Church. This great Mass ends with exuberant Easter Alleluias.
Our Easter Sunday Masses are scheduled at 7:30, 9:00, 11:00, and 5 p.m., with Alleluias sung throughout the day and the season to follow. If you know someone who has duties at work and can’t come to Mass on Easter morning, please share the word of our 5 p.m. Mass. There aren’t many evening options in town.
There are many hours of confessions offered during Holy Week. Check the full schedule in the bulletin.
May this be a week of prayer, a week when we are focused on our Savior.
