Together in Christ
for the Greater Glory of God
for the Greater Glory of God
The Invitation of Lent.
Lent is a season of being invited by God in a deeply personal way. "Come back to me, with all of your heart," our Lord beckons. "We will," we respond, but we aren't quite ready yet, our hearts are not prepared. We want to squirm, evade, avoid. Our souls not yet perfect. We are not ready for God to love us.
Yes, of course we want to have a deeper relationship with God, we tell ourselves earnestly. And we will…. Soon. God calls to us again: Come back to me, with all of your heart.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told: "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."
Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts.
The Forty Days of Lent
The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance: prayer, fasting and giving begin on Ash Wednesday.
In terms of giving, our Church calls us to Give up (Some appetite, some distraction, some affection given up creates a type of "Vacuum" that the Holy Spirit rushes to fill); our Church calls us to Give out (Nothing demonstrates quite as dramatically our intent to put our trust in God, who never fails, like giving away our treasure to someone that can never repay us); and our Church calls us to Give in (The Lenten season reminds us that we are most fulfilled when we are emptied of "self" and "filled" with the Spirit of God).
In terms of fasting, such is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are between 18 - 59 years of age. Additionally, abstinence from meat is observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday, and on all Fridays of Lent.
Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our Baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity in prayer to reflect upon our patterns of living and to experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do. Weekly Stations of the Cross at Holy Family continue a tradition that dates back to the 4th c., when Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land would walk the route that Our Lord walked as He made His way to Golgotha for our salvation. Replicated in Europe (Via Dolorosa), and popularized as a devotion by the Fransicans, the Stations provide throughout Lent, a deep remembrance in prayer of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus.
Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.
The Triduum
The Paschal Triduum, often called the Easter Triduum or simply the Triduum, consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This includes the Great Easter Vigil, the high point of the Triduum. The word Triduum comes from the Latin word meaning "three days." Beginning the evening of Holy Thursday and ending at Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday, the Triduum celebrates the heart of Christian faith, salvation, and redemption: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Thursday
Known officially in the Church as Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday encompasses the traditions of the washing of the feet and the blessing of the Holy Oil. The name "Maundy Thursday" is derived from Jesus' mandate to love one another as He loves us. Holy Family Parish gathers that evening as one to celebrate the "Last Supper" and the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Ordination.
Good Friday
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. A time of fasting and penance and prayer, Holy Family comes together in the afternoon for Stations of the Cross and in the evening for Veneration of the Cross, honoring the Christ who died for the sake of man's salvation upon it. No Masses are offered on Good Friday.
In the evening after a service marking the passion and death of Christ including Holy Communion with the reserved Host from the Holy Thursday, Holy Family's priest and parishioners venerate the cross (crucifix) individually by coming forward and, while kneeling, kissing the foot of the cross.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday, Sabbatum Sanctum in Latin, is the last day of Holy Week, and the 40th day of the traditional fast of Lent, although Lent ends liturgically on the evening of Holy Thursday. The evening of Holy Saturday begins the third and final day of the Triduum. No Masses are said during the day on Holy Saturday, and the day is essentially a liturgically sparse time of reflection upon Christ's death and burial in anticipation of the Great Vigil of Easter, later that evening.
Celebrated Holy Saturday evening, the dramatic Easter Vigil liturgy marks the beginning of Easter. "We are awaiting our Master's return with our lamps full and burning, so that He will find us awake and seat us at His table" (Luke 12:35). All Holy Family Parishioners are encouraged to attend this beautiful service. The vigil is divided into four parts: 1) service of light, 2) liturgy of the Word, 3) liturgy of Baptism, and 4) liturgy of the Eucharist.
Easter Sunday
Easter, also called Pascha, is a feast day that celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead. Full of liturgical fullness and joy, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of the liturgical season known as Eastertide, which continues to celebrate for 50 days through Pentecost, the Risen Christ in all His Glory.
Lent is a season of being invited by God in a deeply personal way. "Come back to me, with all of your heart," our Lord beckons. "We will," we respond, but we aren't quite ready yet, our hearts are not prepared. We want to squirm, evade, avoid. Our souls not yet perfect. We are not ready for God to love us.
Yes, of course we want to have a deeper relationship with God, we tell ourselves earnestly. And we will…. Soon. God calls to us again: Come back to me, with all of your heart.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told: "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."
Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts.
The Forty Days of Lent
The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance: prayer, fasting and giving begin on Ash Wednesday.
In terms of giving, our Church calls us to Give up (Some appetite, some distraction, some affection given up creates a type of "Vacuum" that the Holy Spirit rushes to fill); our Church calls us to Give out (Nothing demonstrates quite as dramatically our intent to put our trust in God, who never fails, like giving away our treasure to someone that can never repay us); and our Church calls us to Give in (The Lenten season reminds us that we are most fulfilled when we are emptied of "self" and "filled" with the Spirit of God).
In terms of fasting, such is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are between 18 - 59 years of age. Additionally, abstinence from meat is observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday, and on all Fridays of Lent.
Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our Baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity in prayer to reflect upon our patterns of living and to experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do. Weekly Stations of the Cross at Holy Family continue a tradition that dates back to the 4th c., when Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land would walk the route that Our Lord walked as He made His way to Golgotha for our salvation. Replicated in Europe (Via Dolorosa), and popularized as a devotion by the Fransicans, the Stations provide throughout Lent, a deep remembrance in prayer of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus.
Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.
The Triduum
The Paschal Triduum, often called the Easter Triduum or simply the Triduum, consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This includes the Great Easter Vigil, the high point of the Triduum. The word Triduum comes from the Latin word meaning "three days." Beginning the evening of Holy Thursday and ending at Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday, the Triduum celebrates the heart of Christian faith, salvation, and redemption: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Thursday
Known officially in the Church as Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday encompasses the traditions of the washing of the feet and the blessing of the Holy Oil. The name "Maundy Thursday" is derived from Jesus' mandate to love one another as He loves us. Holy Family Parish gathers that evening as one to celebrate the "Last Supper" and the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Ordination.
Good Friday
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. A time of fasting and penance and prayer, Holy Family comes together in the afternoon for Stations of the Cross and in the evening for Veneration of the Cross, honoring the Christ who died for the sake of man's salvation upon it. No Masses are offered on Good Friday.
In the evening after a service marking the passion and death of Christ including Holy Communion with the reserved Host from the Holy Thursday, Holy Family's priest and parishioners venerate the cross (crucifix) individually by coming forward and, while kneeling, kissing the foot of the cross.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday, Sabbatum Sanctum in Latin, is the last day of Holy Week, and the 40th day of the traditional fast of Lent, although Lent ends liturgically on the evening of Holy Thursday. The evening of Holy Saturday begins the third and final day of the Triduum. No Masses are said during the day on Holy Saturday, and the day is essentially a liturgically sparse time of reflection upon Christ's death and burial in anticipation of the Great Vigil of Easter, later that evening.
Celebrated Holy Saturday evening, the dramatic Easter Vigil liturgy marks the beginning of Easter. "We are awaiting our Master's return with our lamps full and burning, so that He will find us awake and seat us at His table" (Luke 12:35). All Holy Family Parishioners are encouraged to attend this beautiful service. The vigil is divided into four parts: 1) service of light, 2) liturgy of the Word, 3) liturgy of Baptism, and 4) liturgy of the Eucharist.
Easter Sunday
Easter, also called Pascha, is a feast day that celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead. Full of liturgical fullness and joy, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of the liturgical season known as Eastertide, which continues to celebrate for 50 days through Pentecost, the Risen Christ in all His Glory.
Pray the Stations of the Cross: Created by Brother Edward Sheehy and produced by Yvonne Balcer of St. Peter's Parish, Jersey City, NJ; as presented on YouTube. Time: 8.9 minutes.
- - Preparing for Lent
- - Beginning Lenten Patterns
- - Realigning Prorities
- - Helping Little Children with Lent
- - Cooking Lent
- - Gospels: Weeks 3, 4 & 5
- - The Midpoint of Lent
- - Reconciliation and Healing
- - Preparing for Holy Thursday
- - Preparing for Good Friday
- - Stations of the Cross
- - Preparing for the Easter Vigil
- - Beginning Lenten Patterns
- - Realigning Prorities
- - Helping Little Children with Lent
- - Cooking Lent
- - Gospels: Weeks 3, 4 & 5
- - The Midpoint of Lent
- - Reconciliation and Healing
- - Preparing for Holy Thursday
- - Preparing for Good Friday
- - Stations of the Cross
- - Preparing for the Easter Vigil
Please check the Parish Calendar and/or the Parish Bulletin for exact times of Lenten/Holy Week Services.
