Lenten Regulations – During Lent
Fasting is an ancient discipline in the Church and, together with almsgiving and prayer, will help us prepare to celebrate Easter.
- Catholics 14 years and older are to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast. Catholics over 18 but not yet 59 are to eat only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs.
Holy Week and Easter Schedule – April 12-20
PASSION / PALM SUNDAY – APRIL 12-13
- Regular Mass Times
- Saturday, April 12 at 4:30 PM – Also livestreamed – CLICK TO WATCH
- Sunday, April 13 at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM (Mass in Spanish – Misa en Español)
On Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, no morning Eucharistic liturgies (no Masses) are celebrated. Instead we pray the Liturgy of the Hours together. Only the special Triduum liturgies celebrated for the entire faith community are allowed, and the liturgies for each day of the Triduum are different from a normal daily or Sunday Eucharistic liturgy. The liturgies of the Triduum are one liturgy that is continued over three days.
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM – HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 17
- No Morning Masses
- Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM in the Chapel – Liturgy of the Hours, not Mass
- Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 PM – Also livestreamed – CLICK TO WATCH
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows until Midnight
- Night Prayer at 11:45 PM
As we begin our Holy Thursday celebration, a festive procession into the church takes place as our worship space is prepared. The Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Sacred Chrism, previously blessed at our diocese’s Chrism Mass, are then carried into the church. Representatives of those who will be blessed with these oils in our parish, place the holy oils in the ambry near the Baptismal Font. The oils remain in this special place of honor, ready to be used to consecrate, heal, and strengthen the people of God at the Easter Vigil and throughout the year.
Our Holy Thursday scriptures recall the Jewish Passover meal and the Eucharistic meal Christ has given us to celebrate in memory of Him. The gospel highlights the importance of Christ’s mandate to partake of the meal and to offer ourselves in loving service to one another. We listen to the scriptures and homily. The feet of parish representatives are washed by the priest (the Mandatum). This is a wonderful sign of our willingness to accept Jesus’ mandate to give of ourselves in humble service.
Following the washing of feet, we set the altar for the Eucharistic feast, offer ourselves with Christ, share in Communion and conclude our liturgy with a procession of the Eucharist to the Chapel. This consecrated bread will be consumed at our Good Friday liturgy. We vigil there with our Lord until midnight. Our Eucharistic Ministers, our Choir and our 2nd and 3rd Graders accompany Our Lord to the altar of repose. Like the Jewish people, we place great value on including even the youngest in the rituals and traditions we hold in esteem. We remain there peacefully with our Lord to watch and pray. Adoration concludes with Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours at 11:45 PM.
An Invitation to all 2nd and 3rd Graders at St. Michael Parish – Coming to receive the Eucharist is the most important thing that a Catholic can do. Holy Communion nourishes us for our daily lives. Sharing Eucharist with others molds us into a loving and holy community of faith. The youngest members of our Eucharistic community give great witness to all of us each time they stretch out their hands to receive Jesus. We are reminded that Jesus has given himself for all of us for over 2,000 years and will continue to do so as long as there are parents who bring their children to the feast.
We encourage you to bring your 2nd or 3rd Grader in his or her First Communion clothes (if you wish – if not, white and black dress clothes would be fine) to join in the procession on Holy Thursday evening, April 17. Together we will honor the Eucharistic presence of Jesus. There is no prior practice! You just have to bring your child to Church between 6:30 and 6:45 PM and check in with Kelly Martinez when you arrive, so she knows you are present. We will instruct the children at that time. If you wish to have your child participate, please contact Kelly Martinez in the Religious Education office at 708-349-0903, ext. 633 or kmartinez@saintmike.com by Monday, April 14.
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM – GOOD FRIDAY – APRIL 18
The official Good Friday liturgy, the Celebration of Our Lord’s Passion (with veneration of the cross), takes place three times to accommodate all – at 11:30 AM in Spanish and at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM in English.
- No Morning Masses
- Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM in the Chapel – Liturgy of the Hours, not Mass
- Celebration of the Lord’s Passion in Spanish at 11:30 AM – Includes Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion – Celebración de la Pasión del Señor en español a las 11:30 AM – Incluye Veneración de la Cruz y Sagrada Comunión
- Bi-Lingual Living Stations of the Cross at 1:00 PM in the St. Michael Parking Lot – Vía Crucis Viviente Bilingüe a la 1:00 PM en el Estacionamiento de la Iglesia
- Celebration of the Lord’s Passion in English at 3:00 PM – Includes Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion
- Celebration of the Lord’s Passion in English at 7:30 PM – Includes Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion
In Good Friday’s liturgy we ponder the “mystery of our faith”… the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is not a Eucharist but an extended Celebration of the Word with reception of pre-consecrated Eucharist. We participate in the reading of St. John’s passion narrative. John is the disciple whom Jesus loved and who stayed with him until the end. General intercessions for all people conclude the Liturgy of the Word.
In silence, all turn to face the cross as it is carried into the Church and presented to the assembly. “Behold the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation. O come let us adore.” Together, as one redeemed people, we communally venerate the cross by kneeling in silence for a period of time. This gesture shows our deep love and respect for Christ, who died for our sins. Following veneration, the altar is simply prepared, the Eucharist is placed upon it and Jesus, Our Savior, is presented to us. “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” We process to the altar to receive Our Lord who offered himself as a redeeming sacrifice of love. Following our Communion, we come to venerate the cross individually, bowing, genuflecting, touching or kissing it. All are invited to linger in silent prayer.
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM – HOLY SATURDAY – EASTER VIGIL – APRIL 19
- No Morning Masses
- Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM in the Chapel – Liturgy of the Hours, not Mass
- Blessing of Easter Baskets and Food in English and Spanish at 2:30 PM
- Bi-Lingual Solemn Easter Vigil at 7:30 PM
- There are no Confessions and no 4:30 PM Mass on this Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday afternoon in preparation for our Easter feasting, we bless our Easter foods. We then gather at the Solemn Easter Vigil at 7:30 PM to welcome our Risen Lord, as the new fire is blessed and the new Paschal candle is lit. “May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.” The candle is raised high. “Christ our Light!” We respond with joy: “Thanks be to God!” The Easter candle is then reverently carried into and through the Church, as the faithful receive Christ’s light and pass it on to one another. We rejoice in the beauty of the spreading light and listen to the joyful message of the Easter proclamation of the “Exsultet.”
This is the night when we take our time to tell some of the most treasured stories from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures – the stories of God’s people throughout the ages – the stories of our salvation history. As we proclaim the Gospel, we welcome back the “Alleluia” as we would a good friend who has just returned from a 40-day journey. We break open the meaning of this holy night in the Homily.
This year we are blessed with OCIA Catechumens and Candidates, and will celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation at the Vigil. The Easter water will be blessed as the new Paschal Candle is dipped into the font three times, and all present will renew our baptismal vows and be signed with the newly blessed Easter water. We will offer prayers for the Church, the world, our parish and the sick and dead who celebrate this holy night with us from afar. We offer gifts of bread and wine and become what we receive in Holy Communion. The Body of Christ at St. Michael Parish once again affirms that we wish to be a sacramental sign of Christ’s presence in the world. Amen. Alleluia!!
EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 20
- Regular Mass Times
- Masses at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM (Mass in Spanish – Misa en Español) – The 9:30 AM Mass will be also livestreamed – CLICK TO WATCH
- Extra seating for the 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM Masses will be available in the Multipurpose Room
CURRENT Weekday and Weekend Mass Schedule
- Daily Masses – Misas Diarias
Monday through Friday at 6:30 AM and 8 AM in Church
Saturday Morning at 8:30 AM in Church - Weekend Masses – Misas durante el Fin de Semana
Saturday at 4:30 PM – Mass in English
Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 AM – Masses in English
Domingo a la 1:30 PM – Misa en Español - Recordings of our Daily Prayer Services and Weekend Masses can be viewed through our YouTube Channel – Grabaciones de nuestros servicios de oración y de nuestras misas de fin de semana en Inglés se pueden ver a través de nuestro Canal de YouTube.
We continue to offer our Broadcast Sunday Masses on this parish website. For weekdays, we offer a Broadcast Prayer Service with the reading of the daily scriptures and a homily, some singing and prayers including the Act of Spiritual Communion. This way we will still be offering spiritual broadcast nourishment for those that are homebound – Continuamos ofreciendo la transmisión y grabación de videos de las Misas del Domingo en este sitio web de la parroquia. También, ofreceremos la transmisión de un Servicio de Oración en Inglés diario entre semana con la lectura de las escrituras diarias y una homilía, algo de canto y oraciones incluyendo el Rito de Comunión Espiritual. De esta manera aún ofreceremos nutrimiento espiritual para quienes están recluidos en casa.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions)
Confessions in English are available on Saturdays from 3 to 4 PM in Church / Reconciliation Rooms.
ESPAÑOL – Las Confesiones en Español son el 2do y 4to Sábado de cada mes de 3 a 4 PM en la Iglesia.
If you are still unable to come to Church for Reconciliation because of health vulnerabilities during this time of pandemic, the Church invites us to make an act of perfect contrition, that is, of sorrow for sin, which “arises from a love by which God is loved above all else.” An act of perfect contrition “obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1452). You can be assured that your sins are forgiven if you make an act of perfect contrition (using the Act of Contrition below) with a firm resolve to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation when you are able.
ACT OF CONTRITION – Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishment, but most of all, because they offend thee, My God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
AN ACT OF PERFECT CONTRITION DISPOSES OUR SOUL FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION – My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. AMEN! – CLICK HERE
Young Peoples’ Liturgy of the Word
- YPLW is a ministry for children – Every Sunday throughout the year (except Palm Sunday and Easter), children of the parish (for all Pre-K through 4th Graders) are invited to participate in the Young Peoples’ Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 AM Mass.
- CLICK HERE for more information about YPLW.