Holy Week & Easter at Mt. Carmel
“The chief object of the Church in this week is to celebrate the memory of the passion and death of her Redeemer; every part of the sacred liturgy is directed to this end”
Benvenuti to Holy Week 2023 with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Palm Sunday, April 2nd
4:00 PM Anticipated Mass on Saturday, April 1st
7:00 AM, 9:00 AM*, & 11:00 AM Mass
*9:00AM Mass in Italian
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Bible reveals that the crowds greeted Jesus by waving palm branches and covering His path with them. Jesus’ journey to the Cross beings immediately after this celebration.
The church will be adorned in red with palms in the sanctuary. The priest will bless palms and distribute them to the faithful.
Holy Thursday, April 6th
7:00 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Church will be open until 10:00 PM for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Holy Thursday commemorates the Institution of the Eucharist by Christ Himself. Before the Holy Thursday liturgy, the Bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism—used in Baptism and Confirmation—at the morning’s Chrism Mass.
The Holy Thursday liturgy begins in the evening because the Passover began at sundown. This is the beginning of the Sacred Easter Triduum. The priest will wash the feet of 12 people to symbolize Jesus washing the feet of His apostles. We also witness the Church’s esteem for Christ’s Body through solemn procession and Adoration. It will remain entombed until communion on Good Friday.
Lastly, there is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the night, just as the apostles stayed with Jesus during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday, April 7th
2:00 PM Stations of the Cross
Church will be open from 12:00 PM—3:00 PM for private prayer
7:00 PM Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Good Friday focuses on the the Cross at Calvary. The Church is stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare, and the Tabernacle empty as if in mourning. Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday, but the service is called the Mass of the Presanctified because communion, which had been consecrated on Holy Thursday, is given to the people. During this service, Jesus’ Passion is read as a reminder of His humiliation and suffering, followed by the intercessory prayers for the Church and the entire world. Then, the Cross is venerated in the highest honor as the people approach it with either a genuflection or kiss. Because the Cross is inseparable from Jesus’ Sacrifice, the people are adoring Christ in effect. Finally, communion is distributed and the service ends quietly.
Holy Saturday, April 8th
8:00 PM Easter Vigil
There will NOT be a 4:00PM Mass
The Easter Vigil liturgy on Holy Saturday begins at sundown and therefore, properly belongs to Easter Sunday. This Mass is divided into four parts:
Service of Light: Inside the church, all the holy water fonts are drained, the Tabernacle is empty, and the lights are out. The service beings outside the church where a fire is lit and the priest prepares the Paschal Candle, which represents Christ, the Light of the World. He lights the candle from the fire and processes through the church. Everyone lights their candle from the Paschal Candle until the whole church is alight. Next, the Easter proclamation called The Exsultet is sung. It tells of our sin, God’s mercy, and His love for us.
Liturgy of the Word: Nine readings are provided—seven Old Testament and two New Testament. These readings help the people meditate on the wonderful works of God for His people since the beginning of time. Not all are required.
Liturgy of Baptism: During this time, the Easter water is blessed and new members are brought into the Church through Baptism. Some may even receive First Communion and Confirmation. Afterwards, the faithful are blessed with holy water and all renew their baptismal promises.
Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Mass continues with special prayers inserted during the Eucharistic Prayer. The whole church is invited to the sacrificial altar that Christ prepared for us through His death and resurrection. The Mass ends with a glorious dismissal.
Easter Sunday, April 9th
7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:00 AM Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection
Mass on Easter Sunday is not so different from a Mass celebrated in Ordinary Time, though the tone is much more celebratory. The priest wears white or gold vestments and the singing of the Gloria and Alleluia return. After the homily, the priest will sprinkle the congregation with holy water and everyone will renew their baptismal vows. The Church will enter the joyful season of Eastertide, which lasts until Pentecost.