Holy Days
Every Sunday is a Holy Day, but there are other holy days and liturgical seasons throughout the year as well. On most Holy Days, there is a Vigil Mass on the evening before, and a Mass in the morning and the evening of the holy day itself. There are some special schedules for Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, as described below on this webpage. Make each and every day holy by coming to weekday Mass as well!
Advent-Christmas. On the Saturdays of Advent there are additional times for Confessions at noon each week.
- Christmas Eve Masses: Vigil Mass at 0:00 p.m., and Mass during the Night at 0:00 p.m. Merry Christmas!
- Christmas Day Masses: Mass at Dawn at 0:00 a.m., and Mass during the Day at 0:00 a.m. Merry Christmas!
- New Year’s Eve and Day: Vigil Mass at 0:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and Morning Mass at 0:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Ash Wednesday. Ashes are blessed and distributed after the homily at each of the following Masses and Prayer Services on Ash Wednesday:
- Ash Wednesday Masses are celebrated at 0:00 a.m. and 0:00 p.m. Ashes are distributed after the homily.
- Ash Wednesday Prayer Services are held at 0:00 a.m. and 0:00 p.m. Ashes are distributed after the homily.
Please note that, in addition to the regular Confession times throughout the year, Confessions are also heard each Saturday at noon during Lent.
The Forty Days of Lent Really Count! How are there forty days to Lent? If Ash Wednesday is day one, and if you skip Sundays, then Holy Saturday is the fortieth day of Lent. Try this on your calendar, but you will miss the whole point about counting in regard to Lent. It is not how you count the forty days of Lent that is important. What really matters is how you make Lent count, that is, how you use it to make a difference in your life. This message is all about making Lent count. So, now, let us count the ways together, so that we may receive blessings in abundance!
Lenten Penance. Everyone who has made their First Communion should do some form of Lenten Penance. These penances should be adapted for work-related, medical, and personal issues. You are really never too old to not need to do some form of Lenten Penance. All Lenten Penance should be done in a spirit of prayer, charity, and sacrifice. Use Lent as a time for spiritual spring cleaning and personal renewal of your faith.
Lenten Fasting. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, try to go hungry as much as you can. Taking into consideration your health and work needs, test your limits in this regard. For some people, just skipping snacks between meals is a big deal. Don’t just do your best. Do more! Or eat foods that you don’t like but are actually good for you. Develop and increase your will power through prayerful fasting, especially during Lent.
Lenten Abstinence. On Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays during Lent, give up meat as a special form of fasting. Go vegetarian for a day or eat foods that you do not like. Go further by abstaining from other things besides meat in a spirit of Lenten penance and self-mastery in the ways of Christ. When we empty ourselves through fast and abstinence, especially during Lent, we open our hearts to being filled with the Spirit of Christ!
Lenten Prayer. Consider coming to morning Mass on weekdays during Lent. Develop or deepen a prayer habit during Lent: find a time, find a place, and find a prayer! For example, try the Stations of the Cross, Lectio Divina, the Rosary, Adoration, and Spiritual Reading. Then continue these devotions even after Lent for a more balanced spiritual life. Reconnect with Christ through deeper prayer this Lent and keep it going after Easter!
Lenten Charity. Don’t just give up something for Lent – give it up for good, and then let Lent be the transition point to your better self. Volunteer for some charitable organization during Lent and continue volunteering even after Lent. Support the spiritual, educational, and charitable programs of your parish community. Participate in parish charity drives throughout the year, but especially during Lent.
Lenten Confession. Last, but not least, come to Confession during Lent! Discern your predominant fault, and then work on its corresponding virtue, both during Lent and beyond. Do some spiritual spring cleaning in your life, and then fill your heart and mind with everything that is true, good, and beautiful in life because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Let Lent be a great spiritual reset for your faith life and complete it with your special Easter Communion!
Holy Week and Easter. This year, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on _______ and concludes with Easter Sunday on _________.
- Palm Sunday. Palms are blessed and the Passion Narrative Gospel is read at all the Masses on this weekend.
- Holy Thursday. The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper is at 7:00 p.m., followed by an hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Good Friday. The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday is at 3:00 p.m., and the Stations of the Cross are at 7:00 p.m.
- Holy Saturday. The blessing of baskets is at 12:00 noon in the Narthex. The Solemn Easter Vigil begins at 7:00 p.m.
- Easter Sunday. Morning Masses for Easter are at 0:00 a.m., 0:00 a.m., and 00:00 a.m. A Blessed and Happy Easter to you!