Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend, we celebrate "Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion." This unique opportunity helps us to understand anew the depth and meaning of Christ's passion, death and resurrection. Palm Sunday, or sometimes called Passion Sunday, stands at the doorway of Holy Week. You and I are invited to liturgically celebrate the core of our faith, which is rooted in the Triduum. The mystery of Easter is celebrated at a unique liturgy that takes place over the course of three days.

The first segment of this one liturgy takes place on Holy Thursday evening. At the mass of the Lord's Supper, we celebrate the gift of Jesus given to us in His Body and Blood at Eucharist. Further, we are enjoined by Christ to realize that following Him will entail our willingness to serve one another as exampled in the washing of the feet (the mandatum). The liturgy concludes open-ended with the transfer of the Eucharist to the altar of repose in a separate place outside the main sanctuary.

The second segment of this one liturgy takes place the next day on Good Friday. It is during this part of the liturgy that we are invited to hear the Lord's Passion from the Gospel of John. Further, we focus on the cross on which our Savior hung. Like Holy Thursday, Good Friday concludes open-ended with the reception of Eucharist left over from the mass of the Lord's Supper the evening before.

The third and final segment of the Triduum takes place on Saturday evening at the Easter Vigil. This liturgy is divided into four parts.

• The celebration of the new fire takes place and the new Easter paschal candle is lit in procession.
• The celebration of God's Holy Word that gives us God's eternal plan of salvation through the Hebrew Scriptures.
• The celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation through Baptism and Confirmation.
• The celebration of the Eucharist.

The Triduum ends at the conclusion of the Easter Vigil when all sing the great "Alleluia" of our faith, which is rooted in the Risen Lord.

My friends, I invite you to attend the great "Easter Triduum." There is no other celebration greater in our liturgical calendar. Give God all of the glory for what He has done for His faithful people. By His love, His suffering and death, and by His resurrection, He has set us free for eternal life. Will you please come and give Him thanks?

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. James Tarantino,
Pastor