sacred heart

Every year, we celebrate the same thing. And yet, every year, it’s different - because we are different.

The Chrism Mass - Traditionally the church always celebrated this Mass on the morning of Holy Thursday to bless and consecrate and make Holy the oils used in its rites, and followed this by the reception of those oils into the Parishes at the Thursday Lord’s Supper Mass. Although today the Mass has devolved into a celebration of the ordained celebrating themselves with the blessing of oils thrown into the mix, and it’s not celebrated on Holy Thursday, it is still unique and interesting and it’ll be celebrated this year at 10:30am on Tuesday at Saint Patrick Cathedral in Norwich.

Wednesday, we take a breather - no Masses.

Thursday, we celebrate the Holiest Thursday by way of a commemoration of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30pm, followed by a Sacred Heart tradition called “The Feast of Breads.” The Mass is built around the reception of the oils (part two of the morning Chrism Mass,) the Gospel of the Last Supper, the Washing of Feet, and the celebration of the Last Supper by way of the Eucharist. Everyone is invited to bring sweet breads (not “sweetbread”) for everyone to share after the Mass. We break bread together, both formally and informally, because we are the disciples of Christ, doing as we were asked: “Do this in memory of me.”

Friday, we celebrate Good Friday when all Catholics do - at 3 in the afternoon - by proclaiming the Passion of our Lord, venerating the Cross (this symbol of our faith and the sign with which we were marked at Baptism) and again breaking bread in the Eucharist. A soup supper follows for all. At 7pm, the Youth Group presents the very moving “Living Stations of the Cross.”

Now, repeat after me: On Saturday, there is no 5pm Mass. On Saturday, there is no 5pm Mass. On Saturday, there is no 5pm Mass.

On Saturday, we celebrate the Great Vigil of Easter at 8pm. (Why 8pm? The time is determined by the time of Sunset. This is not the usual Saturday Mass.)

Starting with the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Easter Candle, the community then remembers how the darkness was pierced by The Light in the singing of the Exsultet. The scriptures follow, nine scripture passages and eight psalms chronicling our journey of faith from creation to Christ and beyond. The Alleluia returns and our faith explodes into the remembrance of our baptism and the celebration of the Eucharist. Easter has come. This Mass is longer than the usual Saturday Mass, but it is unique and well worth the extra effort. This is “THE MASS” of Easter, and it is this Mass that forms the basis for every other Mass the Church celebrates throughout the year.

On Sunday, we celebrate the empty tomb and the risen Lord at 8am and 10:30am.

The Lord is risen! Alleluia! A miracle this big must be shared! We have saved a seat for you - won’t you please join us?