HOLY WEEK 2003 CELEBRATIONS AND MASS TIMETABLE:-
The following is the Timetable for Mass and other Services.
| PALM SUNDAY | Saturday (Vigil) 6.30pm Sunday: 8.30am &10.00am (Italian) |
| Monday - Wednesday TUESDAY HOLY THURSDAY |
Mass at 8.00am (Preceded by Morning Prayer) Chrism Mass at St Mary's Cathedral at 7.30pm Mass of the Last Supper with the Washing of Feet at 8pm |
| GOOD FRIDAY | Stations of the Cross in Italian at 8.00am Stations of the Cross in English at 10.00am Celebration of the Passion at 3.00pm GOOD FRIDAY IS A DAY OF FAST & ABSTINENCE |
| HOLY SATURDAY EASTER SUNDAY |
Easter Vigil at 6.30pm Holy Mass at 8.30am in English |
| SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION | Holy Thursday: 6.00pm to 7.00pm Good Friday: 9.00am to 10.00am Holy Saturday 5.00pm to 6.00pm |
THE EASTER TRIDUUM - PASTORAL NOTES
HOLY THURSDAY
Unity is expressed by the single celebration of an evening eucharist in which the
whole local community gathers to participate. Concelebration is encouraged, even by
priests who have taken part in another Mass on Holy Thursday. The tabernacle is empty
before the Mass; thus, all at this Mass and Good Friday receive communion from what is
consecrated tonight, a sign of the unity of altar and cross. The liturgical gesture of
washing feet ritualises the Christian ideal of a leadership of service, a service which
Christ expresses fully by laying down his life on the cross. After Mass, the altar is
stripped and crosses are removed or covered.
GOOD FRIDAY
The Celebration of the Lord's Passion takes place about three o'clock or later for
pastoral reasons. The altar should be completely bare, without cloths, candles or cross.
The Passion may be read in three parts by deacons, priests or lay people; the priest or
deacon takes the part of Christ. It is proclaimed without candles, incense, greeting,
signs of the cross, or final acclamation. The ancient tradition of receiving communion on
Good Friday links this celebration with the Mass of the Lord's Supper and looks forward to
the eucharist of the Easter Vigil.
HOLY SATURDAY
The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not
begin before nightfall and should end before daybreak on Sunday. It is an abuse to begin
before it is dark simply so that the Easter Vigil can be scheduled at the customary time
of the Sunday vigil Mass. The Service of Light begins the celebration with a joyful
proclamation of Christ's resurrection: the readings of the Vigil are heard in the light of
the resurrection. The reading of the Word of God is the fundamental element of the Easter
Vigil though, where pastoral reasons require it, the number of readings may be reduced. At
least three readings from the Old Testament must be retained, including Exodus 14. Silence
may replace the responsorial psalms. Help with integrating the rites of baptism,
confirmation and reception into full communion into the Easter Vigil is available in Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults. The renewal of baptismal promises is our annual
opportunity as adults to reaffirm the faith and commitment of our baptism. The Liturgy of
the Eucharist is the climax of the Vigil. Receiving the body and blood of the Lord from
the altar is the ultimate sign of our belonging to the Church and of our participation in
the death and resurrection of Christ.