Holy Week Begins: Welcoming the Bishop and Embracing the Triduum

This weekend we welcome Bishop Powers, who will be joining us for the 10:30 Mass on Sunday. Our Bishop is here to honor the Drew and Joy Nelson family. They were named the Knights of Columbus Family of the Year last year. It is a tradition that the bishop visits the home parish of the Family of the Year to recognize and honor them. He is also recognizing some Scouts who recently completed the Ad Altare Dei Catholic religious emblem that Scouts can earn. It is a bit unusual to have our Bishop here for Palm Sunday, but it is always a blessing to have him with us. 

Make sure you check out our parish Facebook page. We are featuring a video of Sister Margaret, a School Sister of Notre Dame who is part of our parish, showing how to shape palms into crosses. We are proud to have Sister Margaret in our parish and glad she is showing us how to utilize our palms this way. 

Make sure you mark your calendars with the various times for all the liturgies of Holy Week. A few opportunities that often go unnoticed are the opportunities to pray Morning Prayer each morning at 8 AM. On Easter Sunday, as on all Sundays, Morning Prayer is at 7:45. It is always in our Eucharistic Chapel. Morning prayer consists of the recitation of Psalms and Canticles, a Scripture Reading, and intercessory prayer. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, it will also include a brief reflection. It is a great way to start the day and an opportunity to add even more prayer to your celebration of the Triduum. Also on Friday evening at 7 PM, we will have the Stations of the Cross.

The Liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil comprise the most significant time in the Church year. Easter Liturgy is distinct from the others, but together they tell a magnificent story regarding God’s love for His people and His saving grace of Salvation. 

There will be a few new elements to watch for during the Triduum, or period of three days when we remember the Last Supper, Jesus’ Crucifixion, and resurrection. Some of our music will be different, we will have more altar servers assisting, and perhaps the biggest change will be how we adore the cross on Good Friday. 

As our attendance has grown on Good Friday, we have decided that we need to make a change in the adoration of the cross. The large cross will be located in the center of the church, and people will come from four different directions toward the cross and simultaneously adore it. This will allow us to continue to use one cross, which is preferable, but also allow for a more regular flow of people. Ushers will be available to provide direction for this. 

On Holy Thursday, you will again be invited to bring forward a monetary offering or food items. The food items will go to the Hudson Christian Community Food Pantry, located on our church's lower level. The monetary offerings will support the work Deacon Gregg and others from our church are doing at the Saint Croix County Jail. We have bought some books for inmates and, more recently, have been providing assistance to people upon their release. This might involve getting them clothing, providing transportation, or lodging in a motel for one to three nights. A place to stay is sometimes needed until they can be reconnected with family or transition to a more permanent place to stay. On Good Friday a collection is traditionally taken to support the Religious Communities who provide care for the holy sites in the Holy Land. The need there is even greater now as so few pilgrims visit these sites, which is their usual source of income.

If you are traveling for Easter, please know of our prayers and good wishes. For everyone else, we look forward to celebrating this sacred time with you. 

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