The Sacred Paschal Triduum
Holy Thursday (April 1):
Parish office closes at noon
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00 p.m.
Good Friday (April 2):
Fasting and abstinence are required on this day
Parish office closed
Confessions at 10:00 a.m. with multiple priests
Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m. (Church opens at 2:00 p.m.): Cathedral Facebook Livestream
Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 7:00 p.m.: Diocesan Livestream
Adoration of the Holy Cross until 10:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday (April 3):
Fasting and abstinence are encouraged on this day
Lauds at 10:00 a.m. (Church opens at 9:30 a.m.): Cathedral Facebook Livestream
Easter Vigil in the Holy Night at 8:00 p.m.: Diocesan Livestream
(No 5:15 p.m. Mass)
Easter Sunday (April 4):
Masses of the Resurrection of the Lord at 7:00 a.m.: (no livestream),
9:00 and 11:00 a.m.: Cathedral Facebook Livestream;
no 5:15 p.m. Mass
Doors open one hour before each liturgy, except Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and Lauds on Holy Saturday.
All liturgies have reached capacity for online registration.
Walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat, and can only be accommodated
if space is available, and on a first-come, first-served basis.
April: The Paschal Mystery
This month's theme is The Paschal Mystery. Click here to see the many ways you may join us to get involved and gather, in-person and online, with your fellow parishioners.
Food Drive for Sacred Heart Parish in Manchester
Monthly Catechesis on Thursday, April 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Holy Hour on the Paschal Mystery on April 29 at 6:00 p.m.
Adoration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday
All are encouraged to spend time in prayer before the Holy Cross following the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, April 2. Adoration of the Holy Cross will continue until 10:00 p.m.
Away: No Daily Mass April 5–9
I will be away from the parish from Monday, April 5 to Friday, April 9. If, during this time, there is an emergency that requires a priest, please call the emergency number. There will be no Daily Mass during this time. A visiting priest will hear confessions (5:30 p.m.) on Wednesday, April 7.
—Father Tony
The Church’s Elect received Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; others were received into the full communion of the Catholic Church by making a profession faith and by receiving Baptism and the Eucharist; and confirmands received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
“The sacraments of Christian initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist—lay the foundations of every Christian life. … ‘The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1212).
Paschal Candle
The paschal candle is the preeminent symbol of Jesus’ Resurrection during the Easter season. (The term “paschal” means “passover,” in the sense that Jesus’ “passed over” from Death to new life; through him, Christians too “pass over” from an old life of a sin to a new life of grace.)
The paschal candle is prepared and lit at the Easter Vigil, in darkness, and so it becomes the source of light for the Church. The Easter Vigil includes the Exsultet, which proclaims the Resurrection in a poetic way by praising the paschal candle: “Therefore, O Lord, / we pray you that this candle, / hallowed to the honor of your name, / may persevere undimmed, / to overcome the darkness of this night.”
The paschal candle remains in the sanctuary of the church throughout the 50 days of Easter, and is lit at Mass and other liturgical rites (Roman Missal, Easter Vigil, no. 70). It is then moved to the baptistery, where it used to light baptismal candles (Pentecost Sunday, Mass during the Day). For funerals, the paschal candle may be placed near the coffin to symbolize the Church’s belief in the resurrection of the body (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 35, etc.).
Easter Season
Easter is not just one day (Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord) but rather a liturgical season of 50 days. According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, “The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation as one feast day, or better as one ‘great Sunday.’ These above all others are the days for the singing of the Alleluia” (no. 22).
Bible Study: Pilgrim People
Monday evenings or Thursday Mornings |
Begins Mid-April
Come along on four major pilgrimages in Scripture —the journey of trust with Abraham and Sarah, the journey of freedom with Moses and the Hebrew people, the journey of exile and return with Israel, and the journey of discipleship with Jesus and his followers. God’s call sometimes leads and sometimes sends, and the destinations can be new and wondrous or even dark and dangerous. What makes the journey a pilgrimage is God’s abiding companionship. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer, and access to recorded lectures are included.
Pilgrim People can be purchased on Amazon or other book retailers. Order your book today and join us in April for the Bible study.
We will meet on Zoom, but hope to be able to gather our groups together in person following the Zoom sessions!
Mondays 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.: April 12, 19, 26 and May 3 on Zoom
(facilitators Deacons Charles Williams and Chris Malone)
Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.: April 13, 20, 27, and May 4 on Zoom
(For young adults ages 18 to 35, facilitator Maria Lang)
Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 N: April 15, 22, 29, and May 6 on Zoom
(facilitators Joy Weir and Carol Brown)
“Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him” (John 17:1–2). In the Gospel of John, “the hour” refers to the paschal mystery: the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, together with the sending of the Holy Spirit.
Upcoming Events for Middle and High School Youth:
Diocesan Work Camp
June 21 – 25 | Rising 9th –12th grade
Save the date for this in person service based camp for high school students. Each day we will start together in person and have a virtual “check in” with other local parishes throughout the diocese. Following, we will go as a group to a different community location each day to work in service. We will allow time for daily Mass, adoration and prayer along with time for fun and fellowship. Cost will be between $50 to $100 per student. Virtus trained adult chaperones are needed. Contact: jweir@richmondcathedral.org for more information.
Families of all ages and stages...
Sponsor and Pray for a CCM Small Group
during their exam week!
Let’s come together and support our VCU Catholic Campus Ministry small groups* during their upcoming exam week with a meal from Panera and our prayers as a parish.
VCU exam week is May 6-13th, so we would like all donations by Sunday, May 2. Please mail or drop off the gift cards at the office, Attention: Joy Weir, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 823 Cathedral Place, Richmond, VA 23220 -OR- Place in the collection basket during any weekend Mass, Attention: Joy Weir. If you would like, please include an encouraging note to your small group.
Sign up to donate a Panera gift card and pray for the students by name. Can’t make a donation at this time? You can sign up to pray for the students. SIGN UP HERE
*CCM students meet every week all semester long in small groups to study and pray together. Small Groups this semester are walking through the Gospel of Mark. The pandemic has brought about a lot of changes and challenges for the students over the last two semesters. After praying through a topic, they landed on walking this semester right alongside the Lord through their Small Group Bible Studies. If anything is guaranteed in this unique time, it's that the Lord is walking the journey with them, so it only seemed natural to walk right alongside Him too.
Did you know…that CCM students have been portering, ushering, lectoring, doing administrative tasks, sending cards to the homebound, and shoveling snow for Mass goers? Let’s provide them an easy meal and lift them up in prayer this May!
Building Our Family of Faith
This year, like every year, the Cathedral participates in the Annual Diocesan Appeal. The Appeal is the yearly opportunity for us to engage the next generation, provide for those in need and build Catholic communities. Not only does it support the larger ministries of the Catholic Church of Richmond, it also raises funds for the local priorities of our parish.
As in the 2020 Appeal, the Cathedral will receive a significantly increased parish-sharing formula: 50 percent of the amount collected up to our target of $50,000, and 90 percent of the amount above the target. As of March 25th, we have raised $63,684 (127% of goal.) Bishop Knestout has granted this unprecedented ratio of parish sharing to fund two priorities:
- Cathedral Organ Project (70 percent of funds returned to the parish)
- Cathedral ministries and other expenses (30 percent of funds returned to the parish)
If you have not yet done so already, I hope you will prayerfully consider joining me in renewing your commitment to the Appeal online at
https://richmondcatholicfoundation.org/appeal/
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
SCHEDULE
Masses
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:05 p.m. (Cathedral Facebook)
(Cathedral open from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. (no livestream)
(Cathedral open from 5:30–7:30 p.m.)
Saturday: 5:15 p.m. (Cathedral Facebook)
(Cathedral opens at 4:15 p.m.)
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. (Diocesan Livestream)
Bishop Knestout, celebrant(Cathedral opens at 8:00 a.m.)
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. (no livestream)
(Cathedral opens at 10:00 a.m.)
Sunday: 5:15 p.m.
Cathedral opens at 4:15 p.m.)
Online registration for weekend Masses is greatly appreciated and expedites entry. Those who register online and arrive at least 15 minutes early are guaranteed a seat. Thank you for helping our hard-working Cathedral ushers, who endeavor to have everyone seated before Mass begins.
Confessions
Wednesday: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Exposition and Benediction
Tuesday: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross
Parish Office
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
PARKING QR CODE
YOU WILL NEED A QR CODE TO PARK IN THE PARKING GARAGE ACROSS FROM THE ALTRIA THEATRE ON LAUREL.
