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Pastor 主任司鐸 Fr. Bruce-John Hamilton

Assistant 助理司鐸 Fr. James Kairu

Chinese Mass 中文彌撒司鐸 Fr. Anthony Ho

Parish Office Hrs 堂區辦事處時間 Tue—Fri 8:30am to 12:00 pm

1:00 to 4:00 pm Closed for Lunch at 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Corpus Christi Elementary School 6344 Nanaimo Street Vancouver, BC V5P 4K6 Phone: 604-321-1117 Fax: 604-321-1410 Email: office@cchristi.ca Website: www.corpuschristi-school.ca Principal: Ms. Rosa Natola

Sunday Mass 主日彌撒 Saturday Vigil 週六:

7:00 pm (English 英) Sunday 週日:

8:30 am (English 英)

10:00 am (English 英)

11:30 am (English 英) 3:00 pm (Cantonese)

Weekday Mass 平日彌撒 Mon.—Fri. 週一至五 8:00 am Wednesday 9:05 am (School Mass when in session) Friday 7:00 pm Saturdays & Holidays 9:00 am

Reconciliation 修和聖事 Saturday 9:30 am – 10:15 am 6:00 pm – 6:40 pm Monday—Friday 7:45 am —7:55 am Friday 6:15pm —6:40 pm Sunday (In Cantonese) 2:30—2:55 pm

Liturgy of the Hours/Devotions

Office of Readings Daily 7:00 am Saturdays/Holidays 8:00 am Lauds Daily 7:40 am Saturdays/Holidays 8:40 am Sunday 8:00 am Holy Rosary, after weekday Mass Divine Mercy Devotion Fridays 6:35 pm Our Lady of Perpetual Help Saturday 9:30 am

想在聖體小堂朝拜耶穌聖體，請

親臨堂區辦事處，領取門鎖密碼

聖堂明供聖體時間是每星期五下

午 5:45 至 6:45

聖時：下午 6:00

March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

PARISH MINISTRIES

Adoration Chapel Jarka Fusekova

Altar Servers Fr. James Kairu, Director

Connie Robinson, Asst. Director

Baptism Preparation Class Jackson Fong/Adelia Yiu/Anita Gill

Bible Study Fr. Bruce-John Hamilton (Scripture Study)

Joyce Fung (Tuesday Morning Group)

Joseph Chiu (Chinese)

Catering Theresa Stewart

Catholic Women’s League Leni Fong, President

Chinese Community Frank Chan

Choir

Sat. 7pm & Sun. 8:30am Dominica Chan

Sun. 10am & 11:30am Cristy Luettschwager

Chinese 3pm Vincent Lau

Church Care Helen Estrellado

Altar Linens Agnes Lo

Church Flowers Monica Lau

Church Cleaning Cristy Luettschwager

Church Gardens Adele Almoite

Couples for Christ Neil & Cristy Loresco

Russell & Theresa Zablan

Richman & Nina Therese Manalili

Eucharistic Ministry Bill Lam

Knights of Columbus David Robinson, Grand Knight

Legion of Mary Vickie Cornwall, President

Parish Religious Education

Program (PREP) Veronica Yam, Coordinator

Project Advance Jackson Fong/Dominica Chan/Simon Yeung

Queen of Angels JoJo Cheung/June Tow

RCIA Fr. Bruce-John Hamilton (English)

Joseph Chiu (Cantonese)

Readers Irene Goh-Ko

Safe Environment Ruby Socorro Arico

Seniors’ Ministry Jackson Fong/Theresa Stewart

Stewardship Marcelle Girard

Ushers Colleen van Winkel

Youth Ministry Sheila Gill (Youth Steering Committee)

Chris Verhagen (Junior Youth)

Cory Mae Omega (Senior Youth)

BAPTISM

The Baptism Preparation Classes for

parents are held every 1st (Part 1) and 3rd

(Part 2) Saturdays of the month, 10:30

am to 12 noon, except during the months

of July and August. Parents must attend

both sessions. Call the Parish Office to

pre-register for the class. Baptism

celebrations are held every 1st and 3rd

Sundays of the month following the

11:30am Mass.

HOLY MATRIMONY

We welcome your wedding celebration

at Corpus Christi Church. To arrange the

date and begin your preparations, please

contact the Parish Office or either one of

our priests at least 6 months prior to the

proposed wedding date.

ANNOINTING OF THE SICK

If your loved one, relative or friend

would like to arrange for a priest for the

administration of the Sacrament of the

Annointing of the Sick or to visit the sick

in a hospital, please phone the Parish

Office. Or you may contact the hospital

chaplain:

VGH: 604-877-5918 (Pager)

Fr. Jude Iloghalu (Mon., Tue., Fri.,

Sat. and Sun.)

Fr. Miguel Segura Blay, Fr. Gilbert

Nunez, Fr. Luis Martin Brain Delgado

(Wed. and Thurs.)

MOUNT ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL:

Fr. Martin Tuyen Nguyen, OP

(Chaplain)

604-876-7826

BURNABY HOSPITAL:

St. Theresa’s Parish (Chaplain)

604-298-6800

ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL:

Fr. Rajesh Madtha, OCD

604-806-7290

WELCOME TO NEW PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS: If you would like to become a member of the Corpus Christi

Parish Community, please complete a Parish Registration Form (located by the bulletin board on the left-hand side near the

main door of the Church) and introduce yourself to the priests. Envelopes are assigned to those who request for them. Please

pick them up at the church vestibule or at the Parish Office.

Saturday, March 24 Vigil Mass 7:00 PM for Maria Diep, RIP

Sunday, March 25 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

8:30 AM for All Parishioners, living & deceased

10:00 AM for Deceased Members of Antonioni Family

11:30 AM for Deceased Members of Mucillo & Di Salvo Families

3:00 PM for Maria Yee, RIP

Monday, March 26 Holy Monday

8:00 AM for Rosendo Crisologo, RIP

Tuesday, March 27 Holy Tuesday

8:00 AM for Rossini Gamalinda, RIP

Wednesday, March 28 Holy Wednesday

8:00 AM for Norris Plante, RIP

5:00 PM CHRISM MASS (at Holy Rosary Cathedral)

Thursday, March 29 Holy Thursday

Evening Mass

of the Lord’s Supper

NO MORNING MASS

7:00 PM Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Thanksgiving for the Priesthood)

Friday, March 30 Good Friday

Of the Lord’s Passion & Death

(Day of Fasting and Abstinence)

NO MORNING MASS

11:00 AM The Way of the Cross 3:00 PM Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion & Death

followed by Veneration of the Cross & Holy Communion

Saturday, March 31 Holy Saturday

NO MORNING MASS

8:00 PM Easter Vigil Mass for Newly Baptized Members of the Church

Sunday, April 1 Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

8:30 AM for All Souls in Purgatory

10:00 AM for Giuseppe Taddei, RIP

11:30 AM for All Parishioners, living & deceased

3:00 PM for John Lau, RIP

PLEASE NOTE Adoration Chapel Closed during Sacred Triduum

The Adoration Chapel will be closed during the Sacred Triduum i.e., from 4:00 pm of Holy Thursday (March 29), the whole of Good Friday (March 30) and Holy Saturday (March 31). The Chapel will re-open after the Easter Vigil Rites.

PLEASE NOTE: Parish Office Closed

The Parish Office will be closed from March 30 (Good Friday) through April 2 (Easter Monday). We will re-open on Tuesday, April 3.

Help! Help! Help!

Church Cleaners urgently NEEDED! We will be cleaning our church on Holy Thursday (March 29) starting at 8:45 in the morning for about an hour or so in preparation for the Holy Week and Easter festivities. If you can help out, it would be very much appreciated.

Altar Servers Grades 3-6

You are invited to come and see FR. JAMES’ MYSTERY MOVIE on Saturday, April 7 from 2 pm – 4 pm! Play and snacks afterwards. Meet in front of the parish office. Reply to Mrs. Robinson (djr52@telus.net)) Asst Director, CC Altar Servers of St Joseph.

DISCOVERY FAITH STUDY The Discovery faith study is happening for young adults at Corpus Christi Parish starting Sunday, April 8th at 6:30pm. Discovery is a dynamic and challenging six-week program calling us to come and rediscover God's personal love, His message of forgiveness, and His desire for us. Enrich your relationship with Jesus in a vibrant and supportive community! Open to all young adults ages 18-40. For details and sign-up, please contact cc.faithstudy@gmail.com

East Vancouver Deanery Adult Ministry Education Series: Ministering to Migrants

Saturday April 7 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 555 Slocan St., Vancouver. Fr. Richard Zanotti CS, Fr. Rosemond Sylvestre CS and Sr. Karina Farias CMT will share their experience and guide participants to reflect on how their lives have been affected by migration, and responses to current challenges. Free admission; refreshments. For information contact Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (604-254-0691 / parish.ols@rcav.org) or the organizers of the Vancouver East Deanery “Growing Christian Life” series: Corpus Christi Parish (604-324-2265/ parish.cc@rcav.org or marcellegirard@shaw.ca).

ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS

Chrism Mass

One of the most solemn and significant liturgies of our Church is the Chrism Mass. Join Archbishop Miller and the priests of the archdiocese on Wednesday, March 28, at 5 pm at Holy Rosary Cathedral for the blessing of the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the oil of chrism.

March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Land Collection on Good Friday

The Pontifical Collection for the Benefit of the Holy Places is on Good Friday, March 30, at all parishes! Today, as we know, living the Christian faith in the Middle East is not at all easy. Christians are often subjected to forms of oppression and discrimination. Once again, from every part of the Church, expressions of solidarity come together effectively in the Good Friday Collection. Our parishes are called once a year on Good Friday to support Christians in the Holy Land. Please give generously as many Christians in the Holy Land depend on the collection for their lives. “Let us work for the good of all” (Galatians 6:10). http://www.commissariat.ca/

Pro-life Mass and Prayer Vigil

Join us for a peaceful, prayerful vigil for unborn children and their parents on Saturday, April 7. Mass is at 8:30 am at St. Mary’s, Vancouver, followed by Rosary at Burnaby Hospital. For upcoming dates visit http://rcav.org/pro-life-mass-and-prayer-vigil/

Theology of the Body Course

Discover human nature as the "Gift of Self" in our relationship with God and one another through Theology of the Body. Using the teachings of Christ on marriage, St. John Paul II reveals our true human nature in the image and likeness of God as a "communion of persons in the sincere gift of self," giving us the authentic meaning of our humanity now and in eternal life. Sessions begin this spring: April 9 and April 10. Register at www.rcav.org/tob

Gardens of Gethsemani Open House

Set aside your sacred space at our Annual Spring Open House. Plan to attend, tour the cemetery via golf cart, select your space, and meet with an Advisor to make a contract. Some light refreshments will be served. Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Visit www.rcav.org for more info.

Spring Institute

Archdiocesan Seasonal Institutes provide participants with an opportunity to study and learn about the rich traditions of the Catholic faith and are especially suited for lay people and those serving in Catholic parishes. The courses are open to everyone. Saturday, April 14, at Notre Dame Regional Secondary School, Vancouver. Cost: $40. To register or for more info. visit www.rcav.org/oc-spring

Celebrate your Milestone Anniversary with us!

Join us for a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, honouring couples celebrating their milestone anniversaries: 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th & 60th+ years of marriage. Mass will be on Sunday, May 13 at 2 pm at St. Matthew Parish, Surrey. Reception to follow in the parish gym with exhibitors present in Jubilee Hall. Register your milestone anniversary here: http://rcav.org/marriage-anniversary/. All are welcome to witness and celebrate the milestone anniversaries of others this Mother’s Day!

Rachel's Vineyard Retreat

“Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and He who is mighty came and in His compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall.” - Saint Patrick – Feast Day March 17

Since the day of the abortion, does your heart feel like a heavy stone resting in deep mud? Come on a Rachel's Vineyard™ Retreat and allow Our Lord to raise you up and fill you with His merciful healing. Next Retreat is May 2018. For confidential information and to register call 604-525-0999.

Liturgy & Lunch at St. Mark's College

Every Wednesday during Lent, join the community of St. Mark’s at UBC for faith, food, and fellowship. Special guests will facilitate dialogue about contemporary hot button issues and encourage all who are gathered to cultivate the world anew. All are welcome! Mass at 12:10 p.m., followed by lunch at 1 p.m. Stay awhile over a warm homemade meal, free of charge. Visit www.corpuschristi.ca/news-events/events/liturgy-and-lunch-2018

Stewardship Reflections

“I will be their God and they shall be my people.”

- Jeremiah 31:33

What does it mean to be God’s people? It means we recognize that everything we have and everything we are belongs to God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given us. It means we are willing to use our gifts and our lives to care for our

neighbors and the world, just as God cares for us.

http://archstl.org/stewardship/page/bulletin-inserts

Palm Sunday

We have now come to the most sacred week of all time – Holy Week. You will notice the covering of

the cross and statues – why do we do this? This custom goes back over a 1500 years.

On the eve of Passion Sunday, the crucifixes, statues, and pictures in the churches are draped in purple

cloth as a sign of mourning. This custom originated in Rome, where in ancient times, the images of the papal

chapel in the Vatican used to be shrouded when the deacon sang the concluding words of the Sunday Gospel,

“Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (John 8: 59). The liturgical services of Passiontide are based on

what happened to our Lord during the last days before His death, leading up to the mysteries of the Passion.

(Mystery, in this connection, is the religious term for any episode of Christ’s life related in the Gospels.) The

Mass texts are dominated by the thought of the Just One, persecuted by His enemies, as He approaches the

supreme sacrifice on Golgotha. The Church, by the way of the purple, also expresses her shame as we put our

savior through his passion and death. This is a time for reflection on the love of God, the love of Jesus for each

one of us. He is our model; we owe him gratitude! Let the “purple” be a teaching for you … let it lead you to

reflect on the passion and death of Jesus and how you need to repent and believe in the Gospel

It begins today with Palm Sunday – Jesus weeps over the city and then rides into it. He weeps because

he knows the city is, in so many ways, sunk in sin and stubbornly refuses all the graces that he is offering. It

will suffer horribly for this. He doesn’t walk away though, but rides into the city on the donkey… knowing full

well what is going to happen.

On Holy Thursday Jesus, will institute 2 magnificent sacraments; the Mass (the Holy Eucharist), and the

Priesthood wherein the Eucharist will become present to us. The Mass starts at 7:00pm followed by the

Transference of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose till 11:00pm. This commemorates Jesus’s journey

to the Mount of Olives wherein he allows himself to be captured. There will be confessions during this time

On Good Friday we pray the Stations of the Cross at 11:00am followed by the beginning of the Divine

Mercy Novena. This is a beautiful devotion and one that every Catholic should cultivate and pray periodically.

Jesus walked the real one; Jesus only asks us to meditate on his Walk and to incorporate it into our own lives …

to help us be faithful to him and our Catholic life. Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Death begins at

3:00pm. There is no Mass anywhere in the Church on this day. It is a mandatory day of fast and abstinence

for all Catholics. Remember this – write a note on your fridge.

On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil begins this year at 8:00pm. We have 15 adults being baptized into

the Catholic Church. This is THE liturgy of the year. I strongly encourage you to attend the Vigil … especially

if you have not done so before. It is divided into 4 parts: Liturgy of Light, of Word, of Baptism and of

Eucharist. If you do attend Mass this night, it satisfies for the Sunday obligation (meaning you do not have to

return on Sunday).

This is the most sacred time of the liturgical year. Prepare yourself and get ready to accompany Jesus, as

he offers himself for you.

Fr. Hamilton

本堂神父的話

聖枝主日

我們來到最神聖的一個星期—聖周。你會留意到十字架和聖像都被遮蓋着—為什麼要這樣做呢？這是源

自 1500 年的傳統。

在苦難主日前夕，聖堂內的苦像，聖像和圖畫都會蓋上紫色的布幔，以示哀傷。這傳統來自羅馬，梵蒂

崗，古時在宗座教堂，修士們唱完星期日福音結束句“耶穌卻隱沒了，從聖殿裏出去了” (若 8:59)，便

把聖像遮蓋。這個苦難期的禮節建基於耶穌死亡前一天發生在祂身上的事跡，它帶出了若難的奧秘。（

奧秘，在這個關連中，是福音中有關耶穌生命片段的一宗教的述語。）這思想主導着唯一的祂，為敵人

所迫害，當祂步向髑髏山作最高的犧牲。教會因着我們置我們的教主於苦難和死亡，以紫色去表達她的

羞愧。這是回望天主的愛，基督對我們每一個人的愛的時候。祂是我們的榜樣；我們都在感恩上有欠於

祂！讓這“紫色” 成你的教誨…讓它帶領你去默想基督的苦難和聖死和你怎樣去悔改，相信福音。

今天開始了聖枝主日—耶穌為這城市哀哭，並騎驢內進。祂哀哭因為祂知道這城市，在很多途徑上陷於

罪惡中並拒絕祂施予的所有恩寵。為此它會承受恐怖的苦難。祂並沒有遠離，且騎着驢進去…知道清楚

將要發生的一切。

在聖周四，耶穌會建立兩件偉大的聖事；彌撒（聖體聖事），和司祭品聖事，由此我們能夠領受聖體。

彌撒於晚上 7:00 開始。 在 11:00 聖體恭放聖體櫃中。這紀念耶穌到橄欖山的旅程，在那裡祂讓自己被

逮捕。這段時間聖堂有修和聖事。

苦難日上午 11:00 我們有苦路善工，隨後是慈悲串經。這是個最美麗的敬禮，每一個教友都應培養和

定期誦念。耶穌走過了這真正的苦路；耶穌只要求我們默想祂的行程，並融會於我們生命中…去幫助我

們忠信於祂和我們的宗教生命。下午 3:00 開始紀念耶穌苦難、聖死的禮儀。這一天聖堂沒有彌撒。這

天是要遵守大小齋戒。請予牢記—在雪櫃上寫上便條。

聖周六復活前夕在晚上 8:00 開始。我們有 15 位成人於當日領洗為天主教徒。這是今年的禮儀。我鼓

勵你們來參與這前夕…尤其那些以前未有參加過的。它分為四部份：光，基督的話，領洗和聖體聖事。

如果你這晚參與了彌撒，便滿全了主日彌撒的本份（就是說翌日的星期日，可以不需要參與彌撒）。

一年的禮儀中，這段時間是最神聖的。備好自己好能跟隨耶穌，因為祂為你獻上自己。

Hamilton 神父

Corpus Christi Parish

Palm Sunday March 24, Saturday Vigil, 7:00pm March 25, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 3:00pm (in Cantonese)

Chrism Mass March 28, Wednesday, 5:00pm at Holy Rosary Cathedral

Easter Triduum Holy Thursday, March 29 Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00pm Adoration at the Repository Altar in the Lady’s Chapel until 11:00pm Confessions after the Mass

Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, March 30 Day of Fasting and Abstinence No Mass—Church is closed The Way of the Cross, 11:00am The Divine Mercy Novena will be prayed after Commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with Holy Communion (No Mass), 3:00pm

Holy Saturday, March 31 No Mass during the day until the Easter Vigil Confessions, 9:00-10:00am (Church is closed again until 45 minutes prior to the Easter Vigil Mass) Easter Vigil Mass, 8:00pm (fulfills Mass obligation for Easter )

Easter Sunday, April 1 Easter Masses, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 3:00pm (in Cantonese)

Easter Monday, April 2 Morning Mass, 9:00am

Please Note: The Emmaus Adoration Chapel will be closed during the Sacred Triduum,

from 4:00 pm of Holy Thursday, the whole of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The

Chapel will be opened after the Easter Vigil Rites on Holy Saturday.

Inviting

Altar Servers and their families!

Come and celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead at the

EASTER ALTAR SERVERS LUNCHEON

on DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY,

April 8, 2018 from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

at the Corpus Christi School gym.

See details in your email from Mrs. Robinson,

Asst. Director, CC Altar Servers of St. Joseph.

Come and re-Discover…. God’s personal Love His message of forgiveness His desire for us

…..an opportunity to rediscover the essence of your faith, the beauty of Jesus Christ, and the message made for the heart of every person.

…..small group discussion, reflection, and prayer

WHEN: ____________________________________

WHERE: ___________________________________

CONTACT: __________________________________________________________________

Those who have previously taken a Discovery Faith Study, are invited to sign up for Source or Growth, being offered on the same evenings.

SIX WEEKS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

THE MOST INCREDIBLE PARISHTHE MOST INCREDIBLE FAITH EXPERIENCE

Come and re-Discover...

God's personal love His message of forgiveness His desire for us

… an opportunity to rediscover the essence of your faith,the beauty of Jesus Christ, and the message made for the heartof every person.… small group discussion, reflection, and prayer.

WHO: AMAZING YOUNG ADULTS AGES 18-40 LIKE YOUWHERE: CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH

WHEN: SUNDAY NIGHTS @ 6:30PM STARTING APRIL 8, 2018 SIGN-UP: 604-324-2265 / cc.faithstudy@gmail.com

Approved and supportedby parish pastor

Fr. Hamilton!

In the first century, the early Christians celebrated every Sunday in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. By the second century, they established a particular day for the celebration of the resurrection, which was connected to the Jewish Passover.

Their observance began at sun down on Saturday evening. They called it the Night of the Great Vigil, a time of remembrance and expectation that lasted throughout the night so they could sing “alleluia” at dawn on Easter morning. It was during the Night of the Great Vigil that new Christians were received into the Church.

By the fourth century, it became customary for

people to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to celebrate what was called the “Great Week,” which included Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. The diary of a woman named Egeria in 381 contains the first accounts of the special rites, prayers and devotions that took place in Jerusalem during the Great Week.

Over time, the practice of observing Holy Week spread throughout the Christian world, with prayers, historical re-enactments and special liturgies. During the Middle Ages, the celebration of the Easter Vigil gradually fell out of practice. The important days of the week were Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

In 1955, the Vatican re-established the Easter Vigil as an important part of Holy Week observances.

During the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the bishop called for the restoration of the early Christian rituals for receiving new Christians into the Church at the Easter Vigil. In 1988, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was issued.

Today, Easter Vigil with the Easter fire, the lighting of the paschal candle, the reading of salvation history, the celebration of the sacraments of initiation for catechumens and renewal of baptismal promises for the faithful is once again an integral part of Holy Week celebrations.

Your Guide to HOLY WEEK

Celebrations of Our Lord’s passion and his glorious resurrection date to earliest days of Christianity

12 Ways to Make Holy Week More MeaningfulTHINK PRAYER. If you have to work or go to school during Holy Week, think about how you can incorporate prayer breaks into each day.

MAKE AN ADDITIONAL SACRIFICE by fasting and abstaining from meat on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday in addition to Good Friday.

DON’T WATCH TELEVISION from sundown on Holy Thursday until Easter morning.

GO to confession.

SET ASIDE 10 minutes every day to read Passion accounts in the Gospels.

Make it a point to FORGIVE someone on Good Friday.

PRAY the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

OFFER UP any pain or difficulties you experience during Holy Week and unite your sufferings with the pain of Christ.

PRAY the Stations of the Cross.

ATTEND all of the Triduum liturgies.

INVITE family members, friends and neighbours — especially people who have strayed from the church — to come to church with you.

VOLUNTEER to help decorate your parish on Holy Saturday for Easter.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)

“Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:26-27)

“I thirst!” (Jn 19:28)

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk 23:46)

“Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23:43)

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46)

“It is finished!” (Jn 19:30)

Taking time to meditate on the seven last words of Jesus is a traditional devotion during Holy Week. Here are the last words spoken by Jesus with their Scripture citations. You might want to read the passages from your Bible and then ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what meaning these words have in your life today:

The Seven Last Words of Jesus

Holy Week CustomsPalm Crosses From medieval times, people have believed that blessed palms formed into the shape of a cross would protect them from danger. The easiest way to make a cross from blessed palms is to cut two pieces of the palm, arrange in the shape of a cross, put a thumbtack in the middle, and attach the cross to a doorway or a bulletin board. Check the Internet for directions on how to braid or weave palms into more decorative crosses.

Housecleaning In many cultures the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week are designated as days for vigorous housecleaning in preparation for Easter. This custom probably evolved from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover.

Colouring Eggs Decorating eggs was a pagan symbol of rebirth at springtime for the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Persians and even the Chinese. Christians adopted the coloured egg as a symbol of new life which comes with the Resurrection.

Blessing of Easter Baskets In many cultures, families bring food that will be eaten on Easter Sunday to church in a basket for a special blessing on Holy Saturday.

Visiting Churches The custom of visiting several churches to say a prayer on Holy Thursday was a tradition that evolved from the practice of making pilgrimages to holy places.

Easter Lilies The tradition of buying Easter lilies during Holy Week for use as decorations in homes and churches came into practice in the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity and new life that heralds the resurrection of Jesus.

Sweet Breads In many cultures, Holy Week was traditionally a time for baking sweet breads, cakes and pastries that would be served on Easter Sunday.

New Clothes From the time of the early Christians, the newly baptized wore white garments made from new linen. In medieval times, it became a tradition for people to wear new clothes on Easter Sunday, symbolizing the “new life” that comes with the Resurrection. In some places it was believed that bad luck would come to those who could afford new Easter clothes but refused to buy them.

Holy Water Blessing Some families bring holy water containers to Mass on Easter so they can bring home some Easter water, which is blessed during the Easter Vigil, to bless their homes.

During Holy Week bishops bless sacred oils in the diocesan cathedral at a special liturgy known as the Chrism Mass.

The oil of chrism is used during baptisms, confirmation, ordination and the consecration of altars. The oil of catechumens is used at the Easter Vigil. The oil of the sick is used to anoint people during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

The oils are then distributed to the parishes for sacramental celebrations throughout the year.

As part of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, the renewal of priestly promises was incorporated into the Chrism Mass.

The Chrism Mass is an ancient celebration that traditionally takes place on Holy Thursday morning. But in recent years, many dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass on an evening earlier in Holy Week so that more people can attend.

The word “Triduum” comes from the Latin word three most sacred days in the Church year. It begins at sundown on Holy Thursday, reaches a high point at the Easter Vigil, and concludes with evening prayer at sundown on Easter Sunday.

The liturgical celebrations during the Triduum on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday are rich with symbolism and flow from one to another in a seamless way. While it may appear as if these liturgies are separate and distinct, they are actually intended to be one continuous celebration that commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

For this reason, Catholics are encouraged to observe the entire Triduum by attending all of the liturgies.

The Chrism Mass

The Sacred Triduum

Holy Week QuizHow much do you remember about the people and events of Holy Week? Here’s a little quiz to test your knowledge. The answers are at the bottom of this page.

1. Where did the Agony in the Garden take place?

2. Who betrayed Jesus?

3. Who denied Jesus three times?

4. Who ordered Jesus to be scourged?

5. What criminal was released instead of Jesus?

6. How many Stations of the Cross are there?

7. How many times does Jesus fall on the way to Calvary?

8. Who helped Jesus carry his cross?

9. Who wiped the face of Jesus?

10. What did the sign on the cross say?

11. Who made arrangements for the burial of Jesus?

12. Who was the first to discover that Jesus had risen?

Answers to quiz: 1.) Gethsemane or the Mount of Olives; 2.) Judas; 3.) Peter; 4.) Pontius Pilate; 5.) Barabbas; 6.) 14; 7.) three; 8.) Simon of Cyrene; 9.) Veronica; 10.) King of the Jews; 11.) Joseph of Arimathea; 12). Mary Magdalene.