Mantua – St. Joseph Church in Mantua invites the faithful to attend our liturgies during this most holy time of the year:
Palm Sunday Services
Saturday, March 24 – 5 p.m. Mass
Sunday, March 25 – 8:30 & 11:15 a.m. Masses
We are invited to participate with our whole being: mind, heart, and body. During Holy Week, Christians commemorate the Passion of Christ, Who died on Good Friday in reparation for the sins of mankind, and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all who believe. Thus, while Holy Week is solemn and sorrowful, it also anticipates the joy of Easter through the recognition of God’s goodness in sending His Son to die for our salvation.
Tuesday, March 27 ~ 8:00 a.m. Mass
Wednesday, March 28 ~ 8:00 a.m. Mass
HOLY WEEK TRIDUUM (trid-yoo-um, meaning 3 days) – Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God, principally through his paschal mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life. Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. These are not three separate liturgical celebrations but one which takes three days to celebrate. Thus, the solemnity of Easter has the same kind of preeminence in the liturgical year that Sunday has in the week. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
Mass of The Lord’s Supper
Holy Thursday, March 29 ~ 7:00 p.m.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper features the distinctive action of the Washing of the Feet, just as the Lord did for his disciples and we do for one another. Operation Rice Bowl Collection takes place.
Private Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00-11:00 p.m.
Solemn Night Prayer ~ 11:00 p.m.
Passion of The Lord
Good Friday, March 30
It is the first, the longest, the most grim, and the starkest day of the Triduum. On this day, we confront the truth that the impassible God suffered, that the ever-living God died. We confront the dark fact that He did so for our sins.
Church Open for Prayer ~ 12:00-3:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross ~ 3:00 p.m.
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion ~ 7:00 p.m.
(Holy Land Collection)
Holy Saturday
March 31
Noon Blessing of the Food
Followed by Parish Easter Egg Hunt
8:00 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
Followed by Reception for Newly Initiated
Easter Vigil
The high point of the liturgical year! This moving liturgy consists of The Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Baptism of new Christians and renewal of Baptismal vows; the Eucharist takes place after nightfall on Holy Saturday. The third and consummating rite of the RCIA process, the Sacraments of Initiation, also takes place at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The Elect culminate their long journey to initiation in the waters of Baptism — then, with the candidates, the newly baptized are sealed with the oil of Confirmation and share the bread and wine of the Eucharist as full members of the Roman Catholic community.
Resurrection of The Lord
Easter Sunday, April 1 – 8:30 and 11:15 a.m. Masses
