Dear Parishioners,

Please allow me to offer these notes as a means of celebrating the Sacred TRIDUUM with the greatest degree of solemnity. I would like you to be prepared for what is coming your way this week as we honor Liturgical Law; albeit, with reverence and pastoral care, for all who attend!

The Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper will begin at 6:30 PM. The Mass will be celebrated with dignity and grace, like all other Masses at Lourdes; but there are two major differences at this Mass that I ask you to keep in mind.   

THE MANDATUM: Commonly known as “The Washing of the Feet,” will take place immediately after the homily.  This year I have asked the deacons to preside over the Mandatum given my on-going recovery from recent knee issues.  The Mandatum will flow beautifully into the Preparation and Presentation of the Altar and Gifts.

TRANSFER OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST: Immediately after the post-Communion Prayer, the ministers of the celebration will approach the altar where the Blessed Sacrament will be placed upon the altar and will be transferred for private adoration to the Saint Michael of the Saints Chapel until 11:00 PM.  All able bodies are invited to kneel at this time. After incensation,  the Holy Eucharist will be processed throughout the entirety of the church and will finally be brought to the Saint Michael Chapel.   Appropriate hymnody will accompany this ritual motion.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL RECESS FROM THE CHURCH – AND EVENTUALLY FROM THE SAINT MICHAEL CHAPEL – IN COMPLETE SILENCE!  Our parish is an incredibly welcoming, sociable, and conversant community:  how wonderful your gift is – 51 weeks out of the year!  Holy Week, especially the celebration of the TRIDUUM, requires a very different disposition.  Please refrain from conversation before and after the liturgies on Holy Thursday and Good Friday!

The Blessed Sacrament will be available ONLY IN THE SAINT MICHAEL CHAPEL until 11:00 PM to enhance your private prayer.  The Holy Eucharist will be removed from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (in church) and the Saint Pius X Chapel earlier in the morning, according to Liturgical Law.  Nevertheless, the SPX and Blessed Sacrament Chapels are available for private prayer throughout the TRIDUUM.

Once again, given the incredibly unique and stark nature of Good Friday, I ask that ALL ENTER AND DEPART FROM THE CHURCH IN REVERENT SILENCE!  The 12:10 NN liturgy will begin with the celebrant’s prostration before the altar.  As this ritual posture begins the Good Friday celebration, all able bodies are invited to kneel at this time; if you are unable to do so, please remain seated.

On Good Friday, please consider listening to the Word of God, instead of following along in the Breaking Bread Hymnals!  As this is a different time of the year, please consider participating differently: by listening to the Word of God with deliberate focus!  The Passion of Our Lord in the proclamation of the Holy Gospel WILL BE DIFFERENT from that which is printed in the hymnals.  This is an added reminder of the need to keep the hymnals to the side.  Please LISTEN to the Word of God at this point; do not follow the printed version in the hymnals!

During the Solemn Universal Prayer of the Church (petitions), those who are able will remain standing throughout the ten intentions.  Those who are unable to stand may certainly remain seated!

VENERATION OF THE CROSS:  There is only one Good Friday liturgy at Our Lady of Lourdes; as such, numbers of worshippers tend to be great!  As we venerate the Holy Cross, which once served as the Crowning Jewel atop the steeple of Saint Boniface Church, please approach the Cross, when instructed, and when in proximity to the Cross, please offer a profound bow to the Cross as a sign of reverence. After the liturgy, you may offer you own unique, perhaps more profound, gesture of veneration! The church will remain open for your veneration after the liturgy!

As you exit the church, please do so in sacred silence; all will appreciate your awareness of parishioners’ desire to prayerfully remain in the church.

Much like Palm Sunday, the Easter Vigil not only begins in the church narthex, but on this Holy Night, outside the church as well!  Mass will begin at 8:00 PM at the Easter Fire Pit that is adjacent to the main entrance of the church on the southside.  Only those who are able should gather outside, others may remain in in the church narthex  (the gathering area).  Once the Holy Fire is blessed and the new Paschal Candle is lit, all will gather in the narthex to continue the rites there.  PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ‘CHATTER’ WHEN MOVING FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE NARTHEX, FROM NARTHEX TO THE CHURCH!

The Easter Vigil Mass will include several beautiful readings and sung scriptural responses. Moreover,  we will welcome new People of God into the Holy Catholic Church (universal and local!)   While the Mass is  resplendent with many unique rituals celebrated only at this time, such elements are self-explanatory; you will fully understand the ritual action taking place at this liturgy!  

Masses on Easter Sunday will be celebrated at 5:45 AM, 8:15 AM and 10:15 AM.   There will be no Mass celebrated at 6:00 PM on Sunday night.  Those who attend the Sunrise Mass are aware of the need to “bring their own chair” and to dress appropriately for Wisconsin weather!  I will be mindful of the outdoor elements and will celebrate the Mass with pastoral consideration!

Friends, this is the Church’s “Super Bowl:” I apologize for such a weak, secular metaphor!  But these THREE DAYS fully capture what the entirety of our faith is all about.   Please enter this time, and place, with the desire to offer all that you have, to make this SINGULAR celebration of the TRIDUUM your very own “Living Sacrifice of Praise!

In His Passion,