St. Mary's Parish - Prince George

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC PARISH
EASTER TRIDUUM

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HOLY THURSDAY

THE WILD PUSSYWILLOW HUNT!

The Easter Triduum is THE high point of the Church year, and extends from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday.

It is one massive celebration extending over three days. This is the Paschal Mystery - the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

We like to have harbingers of spring at Easter time, and one of the most prolific is the elusive pussywillow. Unfortunately, due to our warm winter, most of the pussywillows are already past their prime. Thus... the hunt for the elusive pussywillow took us to Ferguson Lake (far northwest corner of the PG city boundary. As one RCIA team member was heard to proclaim:
"We HAVE to have pussywillows for the Easter Vigil reception!!
HAVE TO!!"

On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the
Last Supper.
Feet are washed as a sign of ministerial service by the priest.
Oils blessed at the Chrism Mass are brought in procession. And we are invited to spend some time in adoration afterwards.

GOOD FRIDAY

On Good Friday we commemorate the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Good Friday service is not a Mass, but rather a Liturgy of the Word with distribution of communion. The focus is on the proclamation of the Passion according to John, and on the Veneration of the Cross. It is a day of sombre reflection, but also hopeful anticipation.

And so the hunt began... through fresh snow, old ice, soft mud, and upteen puddles and spring freshets... until... at last...

EASTER VIGIL

The Easter Vigil is the high point of our Church year. It has pretty much everything, except in double-doses!
We have 7 (yes, seven!) readings from the Old Testament. It helps to know that these readings document the story of salvation in miniature... creation, fall, chosen people released from Egypt, law given, redeemer promised.

We then have the lighting of the new Easter Fire. Jesus Christ is the light of the world and has saved us from death and darkness.

After the Liturgy of the Word and the lighting of the Easter fire, we move into the heart of the celebration, the Rites of Initiation. We bless the new Easter water and baptize the catechumens. The catechumens and candidates are then confirmed and formally welcomed into the Catholic community.

Finally, we conclude with the Liturgy of the Eucharist at which the neophytes and newly confirmed celebrate their initiation into our Catholic community by joining us at the table of the Lord.

Lots to celebrate!!!

Alleluia!!! He is risen!!!!

the elusive pussywillow was spied... coyly hiding beneath a blanket of new snow...

All that was needed was a stalwart harvester to brave the quicksand-like mud and knee-deep snow...

And... in celebration of this Easter Season, Fr. Richard made a set of ceiling banners (with some help from his "sweat-shop" labourers (i.e. Vener & Giselle!)). Yes, the one side is still blank... wait until next year!!