Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I don’t know about you, but this year it seems like March has gone in a flash for me. It was a busy month in the parish; with Confirmation, Ash Wednesday, and other events throughout its 31 days. And now that Lent is in full swing and things like Holy Week and Easter are quickly approaching, it seems there’s even more to be aware of. And so, I’d like to highlight an upcoming event and invite you to prayerfully consider joining us for it.
On Palm Sunday, April 13 th at 7PM, SCYM will be presenting Tenebrae here in church. This has been a wonderful tradition in the parish for many years and I’m pleased that it is making a return. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, SCYM, and by extension, many of its efforts, have been slow to come back. However, this year, we’ve been able to build back the program and with around 25 total teens who’ve participated in one meeting or another, and about 10 or 12 at any given meeting, there’s been a good, solid core that’s begun to emerge. In a very real way, it feels good to see this important ministry begin to flourish again and have it help young people connect more to their faith and with each other.
Tenebrae is a beautiful tradition in the life of the Church. Earlier iterations of it were closely tied to the Triduum and one of the official prayers of the Church, known as the Liturgy of the Hours. It consisted in the recitation of various psalms, readings from other parts of the Scriptures, and was a way to celebrate and recall the elements of the Paschal Mystery as we experience it on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. However, since the 1950’s and due to various reforms of Catholic Liturgy, Tenebrae in modern times, looks quite a bit different from how it was originally celebrated. One element that has remained has to do with the name itself, which is the Latin word for darkness.
At the beginning of Tenebrae, there are 15 candles that are already lit in an otherwise darkened church. In the course of the service, there are brief readings, recounting elements of the Passion of Our Lord and as each reading concludes, a candle is extinguished. This continues until the final candle, known as the Christ candle is also put out, casting the church in darkness and recalling the death of Our Savior. It’s a powerful, prayerful experience and it is a wonderful way to begin your journey into Holy Week and the great days found within it.
And so, if you’re looking for something to do next Sunday evening, I’d highly encourage you to consider joining us for Tenebrae. It’s good way to see our younger parishioners in action and to share with them in prayer. It’s also an opportunity to orient us a bit better for the Paschal Mystery as we head towards Easter.
Peace and Goodness,
Fr. Dan
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