Holy Week
Holy Week is the last week of Lent. It is the week before Easter.
Palm Sunday
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday we remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem.
Triduum (pronounced trih'-do-um) means “three days.” This refers to the three day period that starts in the evening on Holy Thursday and ends in the evening on Easter Sunday.
Holy Thursday
The Chrism Mass is held on the morning of Holy Thursday or earlier in Holy Week. At this mass the bishop blesses the oils to be used in all of the churches in the diocese in the coming year. The oils blessed at the Chrism Mass are brought back to local parish churches where they are presented to the parish during a procession at the Holy Thursday evening Mass
The Catholic church uses three types of sacred oil:
Sacred Chrism (SC) which is used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders; Oil of Catechumens (OS, from “oleum sanctum”) which is also used in the sacrament of Baptism Oil of the Infirm ( OI) which is used in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Holy Saturday
The Easter Vigil is the center of the Liturgical or church year. On that night we
bless the new fire
retell the story of our salvation
welcome new Christians in baptism
share the Eucharist together
On that night we celebrate the baptism of new Christians and we renew the promises made at our own baptism.
Baptismal Promises
Do you reject sin, in order to live freely as children of God?
Do you reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by it?
Do you reject the powers of darkness that still manifest themselves in our world?
Do you believe in God, creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, born of Mary, who was crucified, died, and was buried, who rose from the dead and is now in heaven with God?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
This is our faith. This is the faith of the church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus.