Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday or what is really called Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord and concludes with the 3-day celebration of the Sacred Triduum. ‘Triduum’ is a fancy word for 3 days. In fact, the Triduum is considered 1 celebration in 3 parts. So, to understand and appreciate Easter Sunday better, it really helps to participate in all 3 of the Church’s liturgies and perhaps even some of the other traditions.

Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper and focuses on the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood. It includes the Washing of the Feet calling us all to service. Recalling the Last Supper anticipates and helps us understand the deep meanings of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection that will be celebrated on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Good Friday focuses us on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We read the Passion account and venerate (often with a kiss) the cross. On Fridays in Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross, but on Good Friday the focus is and should be on the communal celebration of ‘The Veneration of the Cross’– the actual celebration called for by the Church as part of the Triduum. Many parishes over the years have offered both Stations of the Cross and The Veneration of the Cross. Depending on when those were scheduled during the day, some people have gone their whole lives never attending the Veneration of the Cross. Because we are a bi-lingual parish we have chosen to celebrate the Veneration of the Cross in English at one time (3:00) and in Spanish at a later time (7:00pm). In order to encourage parishioners to celebrate the Veneration of the Cross, we are not scheduling the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. However, those who have this tradition may still come into the church on Good Friday and do this privately.