Christ has risen, allelujah! It felt like Christmas today with the church filled to the brim with parishioners celebrating Christ's rising from the dead. Everyone in their Sunday best, the little girls in pretty spring dresses, little boys in suits and shirts, celebrated this most auspicious day, second only to Christmas. The Church was filled with spring blooms, light green and white tulle provided the backdrop of a big branch of cherry blossoms abloom.
The Service of Light, Baptism and Confirmation of new adult members are held at the Easter vigil. The Paschal candle was blessed and lit, from which all of our candles were lit. This is the candle that will be used for all services, baptisms, funerals to remind us that "Christ is light and life." We renewed our Baptismal vows and were sprinkled with the Holy Water.
The Gloria in Excelsis Deo was sung for the first time since before Lent except on Holy Thursday, and the church bells rang. I remember being part of little angels growing up in Tuguegarao, as organized by Sr. Felici duRosaire of SPCT, with the choice angel taking the veil off Mother Mary. Where there was silence during Lent, now there is music and gladness.
Happy Easter - peace, joy, light and graces to you all.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday 2010.
Maia's birthday.
Good Friday Service. Quite and solemn.
The procession with Father Kopacek and Deacon Larson was silent, after which they lay prostrate at the foot of the altar.
The Passion of the Cross was read during Gospel, the Liturgy of the Word (I remember it being sung/chanted," passion").
In the homily, Father spoke of Christmas, Christ's birth, so the we may have a Goof Friday, where Christ laid down his life for us.
The Veneration of the Cross was most touching, were we quietlly knelt, kissed, touched the cross with the choir chanting "Remember me when you get to your kingdom." We received Holy Communion, which were consectrate don Holy Thursday is the Eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday.
We all departed in silence, with the priests just going straight into sacristy ( no Recession). The altar cloth was removed, leaving it bare except for the cross and two candlesticks. We also did not have Holy Water this Holy Week. A prayerful day to you.
Good Friday Service. Quite and solemn.
The procession with Father Kopacek and Deacon Larson was silent, after which they lay prostrate at the foot of the altar.
The Passion of the Cross was read during Gospel, the Liturgy of the Word (I remember it being sung/chanted," passion").
In the homily, Father spoke of Christmas, Christ's birth, so the we may have a Goof Friday, where Christ laid down his life for us.
The Veneration of the Cross was most touching, were we quietlly knelt, kissed, touched the cross with the choir chanting "Remember me when you get to your kingdom." We received Holy Communion, which were consectrate don Holy Thursday is the Eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday.
We all departed in silence, with the priests just going straight into sacristy ( no Recession). The altar cloth was removed, leaving it bare except for the cross and two candlesticks. We also did not have Holy Water this Holy Week. A prayerful day to you.
Holy Thursday Service, 2010
The Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper was beautiful. Solemn and touching.
The blessing of the 3 holy oils started the service: the Oil of Chrism (used in confirmation), Oil of the Sick, and Oil of Catechumen (used in baptism and ordination). The Gloria was accompanied by the ringing of bells, which are then silent until the Easter Vigil.
After the homily the washing of feet of 12 apostles was performed. In John 13:1-17 Jesus instructs his apostles, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet."
The service concluded with a procession taking the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose (where the consecrated hosts are kept for Good Friday since Mass is not celebrated that day). The altar is later stripped bare, as are all other altars in the church except the Altar of Repose. We all left in silence.
The blessing of the 3 holy oils started the service: the Oil of Chrism (used in confirmation), Oil of the Sick, and Oil of Catechumen (used in baptism and ordination). The Gloria was accompanied by the ringing of bells, which are then silent until the Easter Vigil.
After the homily the washing of feet of 12 apostles was performed. In John 13:1-17 Jesus instructs his apostles, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet."
The service concluded with a procession taking the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose (where the consecrated hosts are kept for Good Friday since Mass is not celebrated that day). The altar is later stripped bare, as are all other altars in the church except the Altar of Repose. We all left in silence.
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