Holy Week Services at Sts. MM&M

Lee Davis • April 3, 2025

From Palm Sunday through Easter: A Journey of Love and Redemption

Service Times

April 13th, Palm Sunday, 8:30 am & 10:30 am (English), 12:30 pm (Spanish)
April 17th, Maundy Thursday, 7:00 pm (Bi-Lingual)
April 18th, Good Friday, 8:00 am (English), 7:00 pm (Bi-Lingual): Mediation Offered at Noon
April 19th, The Great Vigil of Easter, 7:00 pm (Bi-Lingual)
April 20th, Easter Sunday, 10:00 am (English) Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch afterwards, 12:30 pm (Spanish)

Walking Through Holy Week: A Journey of Love and Redemption

Holy Week is the most sacred time of the Christian year, inviting us to walk with Christ through his passion, death, and resurrection. Each service immerses us in the unfolding drama of our salvation, calling us to deeper faith and reflection.

Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry

We begin with shouts of "Hosanna!" as we recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted as a king. Yet the same crowd that welcomes him will soon call for his crucifixion. Palm Sunday sets the stage for Holy Week’s tension between triumph and suffering, reminding us that true kingship is found in humility and sacrifice.

Maundy Thursday – The Commandment to Love

On this night, Jesus gathers with his disciples for the Last Supper, giving us the Eucharist and the commandment to love one another. We also remember his act of humble service in washing their feet. The service ends in darkness as the altar is stripped, marking Jesus' betrayal and abandonment.

Good Friday – The Cross and Our Redemption

We stand at the foot of the cross, witnessing the depths of God’s love. Through solemn prayers, scripture, and veneration of the cross, we remember Christ’s suffering and death. This stark and somber service invites us into the mystery of redemption—God’s love poured out even in the face of violence and rejection.

The Great Vigil of Easter – Light in the Darkness

This is the Church’s most ancient and dramatic liturgy. We begin in darkness, hearing the great story of salvation, from creation to resurrection. Then, the first light of Easter breaks forth as we proclaim, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” It is a night of baptism, renewal, and rejoicing—the moment when death is shattered, and new life begins.

Easter Sunday – The Joy of Resurrection

With the empty tomb before us, we celebrate the victory of life over death! Easter Sunday is the culmination of our journey, affirming that love has the final word. We rejoice in Christ’s resurrection and our call to share this good news with the world.

As we walk through Holy Week, may we open our hearts to the mystery of God’s love, journeying from the cross to the empty tomb with faith and hope.

Would you like me to add anything, such as specific hymns or scripture references?

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Go Into All the World

By Lee Davis • April 28, 2025

On the Feast of St. Mark, we remember that even though the signs Jesus promised in Mark 16:15-20 may seem far-fetched today, God's Spirit is still powerfully at work through us. Every act of healing, hope, and love is a sign that Christ continues to move in the world.

Crowned with Glory

By Lee Davis • April 24, 2025

In light of Easter, Psalm 8 reminds us that though we are small in the vastness of creation, God crowns us with glory and raises us to new life through Christ.

Were Not Our Hearts Burning Within Us?

By Lee Davis • April 23, 2025

On the road to Emmaus, the Risen Christ meets two grieving disciples in their sorrow, walking with them and revealing himself in the breaking of bread. This story reminds us that Christ continues to accompany us in our doubt and longing, often showing up where we least expect him.

Called By Name

By Lee Davis • April 22, 2025

On this Tuesday in Easter Week, we remember that the risen Christ meets us personally—calling us by name, turning our sorrow into joy, and inviting us to live as witnesses of resurrection.

Do not be Afraid

By Lee Davis • April 21, 2025

Even in the face of fear and resistance, the resurrection of Jesus cannot be silenced—Christ is risen, and that changes everything. Like the women at the tomb, we are called to boldly share this truth and live as witnesses to God’s unstoppable love.

From Darkness to Light

By Lee Davis • April 19, 2025

The Great Vigil of Easter, which brings Holy Saturday to a close, is the Church’s most ancient and dramatic liturgy—moving us from darkness to light, death to resurrection. Through fire, story, water, and feast, we proclaim with joy: Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Good Friday

By Lee Davis • April 18, 2025

On Good Friday, the Church enters a solemn stillness, rich with symbolism—the bare altar, the veneration of the cross, and the silence all speak to the depth of Christ’s suffering and love. Though we stand at the foot of the cross in grief, we do so with hope, knowing the story is not over.

Eastertide Music Series

By Andrew Butler • April 17, 2025

As we enter the joyous season of Eastertide, we are excited to begin a series of articles exploring the rich tapestry of music that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. This week, we delve into Bach’s majestic Easter Oratorio, focusing on its opening piece, the Sinfonia, which will be performed during our Easter Sunday service.

Holy Thursday

By Lee Davis • April 17, 2025

Holy Thursday invites us to remember the night Jesus knelt to wash feet, broke bread with friends, and gave a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. In the face of betrayal and suffering, Jesus chose radical, self-giving love—and calls us to do the same.

picture of a crown of thorns and 30 pieces of silver

Holy "Spy" Wednesday

By Lee Davis • April 16, 2025

Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday, commemorates Judas Iscariot’s secret plot to betray Jesus, marking a pivotal turning point in the Passion narrative. It invites us into solemn reflection on human frailty, the cost of betrayal, and the enduring hope of redemption.