Holy Week & Easter – Updated

Our Holy Week and Easter Schedule is as follows, updated on March 23 to follow public health protocols:

1. Palm Sunday: Celebrate with the simple entrance option. Palms are not to be distributed in the parish during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order and may be distributed at a later time.  Mass will be livestreamed from the Cathedral at Noon on April 5.
2. Chrism Mass: Will be celebrated privately (not open to the faithful or the public) and livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Monday of Holy Week  – April 6 at 7 PM. Arrangements will be made for the oils to be distributed to the parishes through the vicars.
3.  Triduum liturgies with Archbishop Vigneron will be livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral; see times below.
   1. Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Note: The Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has granted permission for the liturgy on this day to be celebrated without the people due to these extraordinary circumstances (DECREE “In time of Covid-19”)
      1. The Washing of the Feet is to be omitted.
      2. The procession of the Blessed Sacrament is to be omitted. The Blessed Sacrament is to be kept in the Tabernacle.
      3. Mass will be livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at 7:00 PM on Thursday April 9.
   2. Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion:
      1. The Cross should be reverenced by a genuflection or profound bow without kissing or touching the cross.
      2. This liturgy will be livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at 1:00 PM.
   3. Easter Vigil: Note: The Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments has given special instructions for this Mass this year (DECREE “In time of Covid-19”). No adjustments to the start time of the Mass have been made so it may not begin until after dusk.
      1. Administering the Sacraments of Initiation to those in RCIA is to be postponed until a later date when the fuller community can be present.
      2. The preparation and lighting of the fire as well as the procession into the church are omitted. The Paschal Candle is prepared and lit; this is followed immediately by the Exsultet.
      3. The baptismal liturgy is truncated to include only the Renewal of Baptismal Promises. Therefore the Mass should proceed thus after the Gospel:
      4. This simplified Mass will be livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at 9:00 PM.
   4. Catechumens and Candidates for Full Communion
      1. The Archbishop will determine a suitable time for the reception of these members into the Church.
         1. This will be announced in advance to allow proper preparation.
         2. At the time of the announcement, a plan for (or dispensation from) the Scrutinies will be announced.
      2. Catechumens and Candidates for Full Communion have been a part of the RCIA process for many months and are supported by the RCIA team and parish. Part of our Easter joy is the parish seeing and celebrating their entrance into the Church.
      3. In the case of an emergency, a person may at any time be baptized, confirmed or received into the Church.
4. Easter Sunday:
   1. Easter Sunday liturgies are to be offered in private and may be televised or livestreamed according to safety protocols.
   2. This Mass will be livestreamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at 11:00 AM.

Holy Week Services are to be continued in parishes which are able according to directives given.