Help Needed for Holy Week!Garden of Gethsemane VolunteersWe are looking for good, strong volunteers to help us set up for Holy Thursday and Easter this year. Volunteers are needed at 4:30pm, Wednesday, April 17th, for set up, then again at 12:30pm, Saturday, April 20th. Call the cluster office at 231-526-2017 for more info.
Easter Flowers for the HomeboundWe need your help to prepare Easter flowers for our homebound. We will meet in the parish hall kitchen at Holy Childhood of Jesus at 9:30am on Saturday, April 20th. No experience is necessary and many hands make light work. We are also looking for delivery help this year. Please contact the cluster office at 231-526-2017 for more information.
A Day of Fast and Abstinence
For those who are 18 but not yet 59, only one main meal is eaten. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. For those who are 14 years and older, abstinence from meat is observed. Veneration Of The Holy Cross The faithful are invited to venerate the Cross by a genuflection, a touch, or a kiss. The Paschal Fast Good Friday is the one day of the year that there is no consecration of the Eucharist anywhere in the world. The Holy Communion we receive on Good Friday is consecrated at the Holy Thursday Mass. 
Easter VigilSaturday, April 20th, 9pm, Holy Childhood of Jesus
The Greatest and Most Noble of All Solemnities The Easter Vigil has regained its rightful place as the most important liturgy of the year! It is the night of all nights and primary celebration of the resurrection of Easter. Service Of Light Easter Vigil begins outside at the blazing fire where the priest will bless the fire and prepare the Easter candle; this will be used to bless the waters of baptism. The faithful will follow the Easter candle into the church where their candles will then be lit. Liturgy Of The Word The highlights of salvation history are recalled with Scripture readings and responses, three from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. Bring Your Bells Parishioners are invited to bring bells from home to ring during the Gloria at the Easter Vigil Liturgy. Plan on bringing your bells to this joyous celebration. Bring Containers From Home Please bring containers from home if you would like new blessed water from the Holy water fount. You will be able to collect the water after Mass. Blessing of the Easter Food BasketsSaturday, April 20th, 12pm, Holy Childhood of Jesus Church
When many of our Eastern European ancestors came to this country, they brought with them some beautiful traditions. Among the most popular is the blessing of food that would be eaten on Easter morning. After a strict Lenten fast and abstinence, a symbolic portion of the family’s Easter meal was made in advance for a blessing. The family would fill a basket with these foods and then cover it with a crocheted cloth. Often the cloth had an Easter emblem or the words, ‘Christ is Risen’ on it. |
Palm SundayHoly Childhood of Jesus (We begin in the parish hall)
5pm, Saturday, April 13th 8:30am & 11am, Sunday, April 14th Holy Cross 4pm, Saturday, April 13th St. Nicholas 11am, Sunday, April 14th 
Chrism MassTuesday, April 16th, 11am, St. Mary’s Cathedral
Bishop Steven J. Raica invites you to this most solemn and significant liturgy to be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Gaylord. During this Mass, Bishop Raica will bless the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick and consecrate the Oil of Holy Chrism. These oils will be used throughout the year at our parishes for anointing adult and infant catechumens and the sick and the sacred Oil of Chrism will be used for anointing at baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars. If you have never attended the Mass of Chrism, please consider coming this year. It truly is one of the most significant and beautiful liturgies of the Church. 
Holy ThursdayThursday, April 18th, 7pm, Holy Childhood of Jesus
Presentation Of The Oils The Sacred Chrism, Oil of the Catechumens and Oil of the Sick are brought back from the Chrism Mass and placed in the Ambry for sacramental use throughout the year. Washing Of Feet Jesus taught us how to serve when he instituted the Holy Eucharist, Priestly Orders, and His commandment concerning brotherly love. The washing of feet is an outward expression of all three. Offer Your Rice Bowls & Gifts of Food At This Liturgy There will be no monetary collection at the Holy Thursday Liturgy, instead, parishioners are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry and Rice Bowl Collections for Catholic Relief Services. Baskets will be available in the narthex for these contributions. Bring Your Bells Parishioners are invited to bring bells from home to ring during the Gloria at the Holy Thursday Liturgy. The Glory to God, not sung since Ash Wednesday, returns for this brief moment. Bells ring and festive colors are used for the vestments and decorations. Plan on bringing your bells to this joyous celebration. Keep Watch With Me After the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, we keep vigil with Christ in the Garden. He asked us to do this when he says, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38) We have the opportunity to expose our bare souls to the full impact of our night watch. The garden will be located in the St. Thomas Aquinas Library at HCJ Parish. To help us maintain this critical vigil, we recommend the following schedule. Last Names beginning with: M-Q 8:30pm - 9:00pm R-Z 9:00pm - 9:30pm A-C 9:30pm -10:00pm D-G 10:00pm -10:30pm H-L 10:30pm -11:00pm The vigil will end with Night Prayer at 11pm. Keeping vigil Thursday night can bring more depth of meaning to Good Friday. The empty church will be open on Friday morning for those wishing to continue to watch and wait. No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance. -St. Leo the Great
Easter SundaySunday, April 21st
8:30am & 11am, Holy Childhood of Jesus 9am, Holy Cross 11am, St. Nicholas Let Us Rejoice And Celebrate Easter Sunday is the first day of our 50 day celebration of Easter Time. Our joyful celebration reflects the astonishment which came over the women who, having seen the crucifixion of Christ, found the tomb empty when they went there. He is Risen! |
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