Holy Week and Easter Sunday Information for St. Anne's

St. Anne Catholic Church in Oswego is preparing for the high point of the entire year for Christians: the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) leading up to the great celebration of Easter Sunday.

All are welcome to attend the various services, to pray and to journey with us as prepare for the great high feast of our Church year, that day when the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the God whom the universe cannot contain suffers, dies, and rises again.

Here is the schedule for Holy Week, which begins Sunday, April 13.

Sunday, April 13: Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday we celebrate and remember the Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem by blessing and waving palm branches. In Jesus' time, palm branches were symbols of victory and triumph; this is a celebration of Christ as Messiah and King!

Mass times:
Saturday night (April 12): 5pm
Sunday morning: 7:30am, 9:15am, 11:00am

Thursday, April 17: Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday is a very important day for the universal Church. Traditionally, on the morning of Holy Thursday, the whole local Church (that is, a certain diocese; ours is the Diocese of Joliet) gathers in the Cathedral with the bishop and priests of the local area to celebrate the "Chrism Mass" at which the bishop solemnly consecrates the oils used during the celebration of the sacraments throughout the year.

Closer to home, St. Anne's will be celebrating the Mass of the Lord's Supper during which the Church commemorates the Institution of the Priesthood and the Institution of the Eucharist. This Mass also includes the washing of the feet.

Mass time: 7:00pm in the church, followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight in the chapel in the Joachim Center.

Friday, April 18: Good Friday
On Good Friday, the Church recalls the passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus on the Cross. It is the one day of the entire year on which there is no Mass celebrated.

Service times:
Stations of the Cross: 3:00pm in the church
Veneration of the Cross: 7:00pm in the church

Saturday, April 19: Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is a day of waiting, of recollection, and of preparation while Jesus is in the tomb. The Easter Vigil is the central liturgy of the entire year because it is when the new Easter candle is blessed, the first GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO is sung, and we joyfully announce the resurrection of Jesus. It is also the day on which all of the candidates and catechumens are baptized, receive the Eucharist and Confirmation, and are welcomed into full communion with the Church.

Mass time: 7:00pm in the church

Sunday, April 20: Easter Sunday
***Please note that these Mass times are different than the normal Sunday Mass times.*** Please arrive early and remember to remain holy and happy despite the inevitable challenges in the parking lot!

Mass times: 7:00am, 8:15am, 9:45am, 11:15am, 12:45pm. All Masses will be held in the church. There will be no overflow Masses in the Joachim Center this year.

For More Information about Easter, Holy Week, or St. Anne parish please check out the following links:

St. Anne Parish
"Holy Week in 2 Minutes" from the Paulist Fathers
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

God bless you and have a joyous, blessed, and holy Easter!!!

-Ryan