Holy Thursday	Holy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum, three days that commemorate the holiest time of the Christian year. On Holy Thursday the story from the Gospel of John is read where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. In doing this the night before he died, Jesus reveals himself as the Servant of All. Jesus makes it very clear that doing likewise is essential for discipleship. This event happens at the Passover meal which Jesus as a faithful Jew was celebrating with his friends and followers. The liturgy begins with the presentation of the oils and ends with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Eucharistic chapel.
Good Friday	On Good Friday, the Triduum continues with the commemoration of Jesus’ death on the cross – a punishment for his “crime” of blasphemy. Christians see the death of Jesus as redemptive – an act of utter and complete faithfulness and trust in God who saves us. During this liturgy, readings from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah are read along with the reading of the Passion story. We also have the opportunity to venerate the cross, the instrument of Jesus’ death which is also seen as the sign of his victory over death.
Easter Vigil	This victory is at the core of the Easter feast which begins with the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday evening and continues on Easter Sunday and then on for fifty more days until the Pentecost feast in June. Christians believe that after being death for three days, Jesus was resurrected and was experienced by many of his followers who tell the stories of walking with him, eating with him and touching him. This is the transformative event in the Christian faith and to this day, Christians ritualize their own identification with the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus through Baptism. When Christians gather on Sunday for worship, it is this mystery that they remember and celebrate. At the Great Easter Vigil, we gather around the fire to light the Paschal candle and then hear our story of salvation history in the Liturgy of the Word. Those who have been preparing to join the Church are initiated with the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.