Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord – March 28th:
The Passion of the Lord from Mark’s Gospel will be read in parts by Father, Deacon Ed, and the Lector. Palms will be distributed in a sanitary manner at the end of each Mass.
Holy Tuesday – March 30th:
7:30am Mass will be at Sacred Heart. The Archdiocesan Chrism Mass is at 1:00pm at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque. It is at this Mass that the Holy Oils used throughout the year are blest by Archbishop Jackels and distributed to the parishes. It is also the Mass where the Priests renew their vows. Attendance will be extremely limited to just representatives from each Deanery. The faithful of the Archdiocese are encouraged to watch the live stream on the Archdiocesan website at dbqarch.org
Holy Wednesday – March 31st:
8am Mass will be at St. Luke. See below for information on the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation:
There will be three Services of General Absolution & Reconciliation (similar to the services in Advent) offered on the following days: Sacred Heart on Saturday, March 27th at Noon, St. Luke on Sunday, March 28th at 2pm, and at Sacred Heart on Wednesday, March 31st at 7pm. Please contact Father to make an appointment if you prefer an individual confession.
Holy Thursday – April 1st:
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper for both parishes will be held at St. Luke beginning at 7:30pm. This Mass reminds us of the gift of the Eucharist given to us the night before our Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross. The Holy Oils that were blest at the Chrism Mass presented to the parishes at this Mass. There will not be a washing of the feet this year. Nor will there be a Eucharistic procession at the end of the Mass. The Mass does not end, as it is the beginning of the Sacred Triduum, the Three Days. Father and Deacon Ed will strip the Altar following Holy Communion and the everyone departs in silence.
Good Friday – April 2nd:
The Passion of the Lord will be 3:00pm at St. Luke and 7:00pm at Sacred Heart. We continue the Sacred Triduum by entering in silence and through listening again to our Lord’s Passion in the Gospel of John. This will be
read in parts by Father, Deacon Ed, and the Lector. We will hear the General Intercessions of the Church as the Universal Church prays them together. This year in addition to the traditional ten intercessions one will be added about the pandemic. We will have collections at both parishes for the support of the Holy Land. The baskets will not be passed but will be at the
entrance of the Church. Please place your donation in the baskets as you enter the Church. We will venerate the Wood of the Cross, which reminds us of the importance of the Cross for our salvation but touching or kissing the Cross will not be allowed. This year you are asked to bow or genuflect as you come up for the veneration. We will receive the Body of Christ that has been consecrated at Mass on Holy Thursday and again depart in silence.
THIS IS A DAY OF FASTING AND ABSTINENCE FOR EVERYONE OF ALL AGES, UNLESS THERE IS A MEDICAL REASON NOT TO FAST.
Holy Saturday – April 3rd:
The Easter Vigil for both parishes will be at Sacred Heart beginning at 8pm. The Paschal Candle, which leads us out of darkness and into the light will be blessed and then we hear the Exultet proclaimed and hear the Scriptures as they remind us of our relationship with God. We will hear the Gloria proclaimed along with the Epistle from St. Paul and the Gospel which reminds us of God’s eternal love for us. We will also renew our Baptismal promises. Together we will celebrate at the Table of the Lord. We will depart proclaiming our praise to God.
Easter Sunday – April 4th:
: 8:30am Mass at Sacred Heart (there will be very limited seating in the Gathering Space and the balcony but NO seating in Newman Hall) and 10:30am Mass at St. Luke. We come together to celebrate the gift of the
Paschal Mystery and new life in the Resurrection. We then take this gift of new life into the world to share as we begin the Easter Season. Please remember that both parishes will have very limited seating and the Church doors will be closed once we reach capacity for each Mass. Both Easter Sunday Masses will be live streamed on our Facebook page.
May this most sacred of all weeks in the Church year be one of peace, reflection, and joy for you and your family. We hope you will join us during this most sacred time. God bless your Easter Journey as we go forward to the great Feast of Pentecost and the birth of God’s Church in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Happy Easter!
