Today we begin the Week that we call Holy. It is the high point of the Church’s year when we re-live the central events of our faith. During these days we come together as one parish community to share in the beautiful liturgies and to celebrate together the Paschal Mystery – the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The services of the Triduum are in effect one liturgy spread over three days and ideally we should try to attend all three: The Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 pm on Maundy Thursday, the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday at 3 pm and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening at 8.30.
Palm Sunday
Weather permitting we will gather outside the church for the blessing of our palms. We follow the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and then we shall listen to St Mark’s account of the Passion as the Gospel. The scene is now set for the week to come.
Monday
The Mass today will be the Requiem Mass for Marianne MacQueen at North Walsham followed by a reception in the parish hall.
Tuesday
Morning Prayer at 9.10 am (North Walsham)
Mass at 9.30 am (North Walsham) followed by Confessions to 10.30 am
Wednesday
Mass with Morning Prayer at 9.;30 am (St Helen’s Hoveton)
Chrism Mass a the Cathedral at 7 pm.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Morning Prayer at 9.30 am followed by Confessions to 10.30 am
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 pm with the Mandatum (Washing of Feet). The Holy Oils blessed at the Cathedral the previous evening will be brought in the Offertory procession. There will be a collection for HCPT to support their pilgrimage to Lourdes which leaves on Easter Sunday. At the end of Mass the Blessed Sacrament will be taken to the Altar of Repose in the parish hall. The hall will remain open for prayer until Night Prayer at 10 pm.
GOOD FRIDAY
Today is a day of fasting and abstinence
11.30 am: Children’s Service
3.00 pm: Celebration of the Passion of our Lord
The liturgy today is not a Mass: it is made up of readings from scripture, solemn intercessions, the Veneration of the Cross and a simple Communion service. There will be a retiring collection for the Holy Land shrines.
7.00 pm: Stations of the Cross at St Helen’s, Hoveton
Processions of Witness today:
North Walsham: Gather at the Market Cross at 9.45 am
Aylsham: Gather at the Bure Valley Railway at 9.30 am
Hoveton: Gather at St John’s church, Hoveton, at 10.00am
HOLY SATURDAY
Morning Prayer at 9.30 am
Polish Blessing of Easter Food at 2.00 pm
The Easter Vigil will begin at 8.30 pm. This ancient liturgy is the most important in the Church’s year. It begins with the lighting of the Paschal Candle from the Easter fire. After the Exultet (the Easter song) we listen to three key readings from the Old Testament. Then the first Mass of Easter begins with the Gloria. We renew our Baptismal Promises and then receive the Risen Lord in Holy Communion.
The new issue of Mango News, the newsletter of Support Cambodia, will be available after Mass today. If you have already registered to receive it by email, it would be much appreciated if you did not also take a paper copy! Thank you.
We pray those whose anniversaries occur during this week including: Millicent Ethel Lee, Barbara Elizabeth Stephen, Ronald Henry James Wilders, Alice Mary Bean, Augustus Heralty and Eric Walter Moll.
May they rest in peace.
A parent and child are looking for a place to rent in North Walsham. If you can help please contact Hilary on 07909 319646
