Dear Parishioners,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.

We are basking in the joy of the Easter Season, which began here at St. Joan of Arc with one of the loveliest and most prayerful Paschal Triduums I have ever been privileged to be a part of.

The Paschal Triduum is a sequence of three days, each of which begins the evening before:

• Day 1: Thursday – Friday

• Day 2: Friday – Saturday

• Day 3: Saturday – Sunday

Each of these days, identified with a unique liturgical rite, celebrates the climactic events of Jesus’ life that summarize His entire ministry.

These are ancient rites that, throughout the history of Christianity, have evolved due to various cultural influences. More significantly, they have developed as their theological meaning has gradually unfolded through the lives of those who celebrate them.

Rituals of any kind act as a kind of glue that binds communities together, giving them identity and revealing their most sacred values. For this reason, rituals often resist change, as change can feel threatening to those who cherish them. Yet nothing survives unless it changes—albeit slowly and thoughtfully. This dynamic is what makes the liturgical rituals of the Paschal Triduum such a fascinating study.

More than anything else, rituals are deeply sensory experiences. As embodied people, we interpret the world not only through thoughts and ideas but also through physical expressions—things that can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, and touched. The more beautiful these expressions, the greater their impact.

I invite you to enjoy some of the sights from this past year’s Paschal Triduum at St. Joan of Arc Parish.

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Holy Thursday

Opening Prayer for Mass

O God, who have called us to participate
in this most sacred Supper,
in which your only begotten Son,
when about to hand himself over to death,
entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,
the banquet of his love,
grant, we pray,
that we may draw from so great a mystery
the fullness of charity and of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

Amen.

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Easter Vigil

Opening Verses of the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,
exult, let Angel ministers of God exult,
let the trumpet of salvation
sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!

Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,
ablaze with light from her eternal King,
let all corners of the earth be glad,
knowing an end to gloom and darkness.

Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice,
arrayed with the lightning of his glory,
let this holy building shake with joy,
filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.

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I pray that the remaining weeks of the Easter Season may be a time of rejoicing and hope for all of us and for our world, as we call upon all people to lay down the weapons of war and unite in efforts that will foster lasting peace.

In the name of our Risen Christ,
Fr. Gabriel, OSB

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