Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, commemorates the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. No Mass is celebrated on Good Friday; instead, the Church celebrates a special liturgy in which the account of the Passion according to the Gospel of John is read, a series of intercessory prayers (prayers for special intentions) are offered, and the faithful venerate the Cross by coming forward and kissing it. The Good Friday liturgy concludes with the distribution of Holy Communion . Since there was no Mass, Hosts that were reserved from the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday are distributed instead.

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. The Mass of the Lord's Supper initiates the Easter Triduum, the three days of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday that commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It is normally celebrated in the evening, when according to Jewish tradition Friday begins.

The Washing of the Feet is a traditional component of the celebration in many Christian Churches, including the Armenian, Ethiopian, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Schwarzenau Brethren/German Baptist groups, Mennonites, and Roman Catholic Churches. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Mass of the Lord's Supper begins as usual, but the Gloria is accompanied by the ringing of bells, which are then silent until the Easter Vigil. After the homily the washing of feet may be performed. The service concludes with a procession taking the Blessed Sacrament to the place of reposition. The altar is later stripped bare, as are all other altars in the church except the Altar of Repose, as a preparation for the somber Good Friday service. In pre-1970 editions, the Roman Missal envisages this being done ceremonially, to the accompaniment of Psalm 21/22, a practice which continues in many Anglican churches.

As Holy Week gets into high gear, just a reminder that the events that surround Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday are not possible without your support and attendance.

Please make every effort to attend these services and when possible to help in there preperation.

Thank you and God Bless you during this Holy Week. 

-Holy Thursday 8pm Mass

-Good Friday 3pm Service and 7-9pm Procession 

-Easter Vigil 8pm Mass

-Easter Sunday 11am Mass

Times to help

-Good Friday Procession - Friday 6:30pm at teh church - help is needed carring banners, flags and statues. Contact John at carry@mariaaddolorata.com

-Easter Decorating - Saturday 11am - 4pm in the church - Help decorate the church for the celebration of Easter  

Tonight at 8pm the Diocese of Brooklyn will celebrate the Chrism Mass at St. James Cathedral. At this Mass oils will be distributed among the parishes and institutions of the Diocese of Brooklyn for use during the next year. All priests are invited to this special Mass and will be given the opportunity to renew their vows during the Liturgy.

On Wednesday, April 20th at 7pm at Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church a communal celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing & Healing will be celebrated by Father Sansone for our Parish using the newly blessed Chrism.

Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing"), also called "Myrrh" (Myron), Holy anointing oil, or "Consecrated Oil," is a consecrated oil used in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, in the Assyrian Church of the East, and in Old-Catholic churches, as well as Anglican churches in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions.

At the Chrism Mass -- which is usually the largest annual gathering of clergy and faithful most dioceses have -- the priests renew the commitments they made at their ordination. The Mass takes its name from the most eminent of the three holy oils which the bishop commissions for his local church's use over the following year.

While the Oil of the Sick, used for those who seek the anointing, and the Oil of the Catechumens, which is imposed on those preparing for baptism, are simply "blessed," the Sacred Chrism is "consecrated," and all the priests present participate in the latter moment by extending their hands toward the vessel containing it as the bishop says the prayer of consecration.

The Chrism is used at the ordination of priests and bishops, baptisms, confirmations, the consecration of altars and the blessing of churches, where the walls are smeared with it in the shape of the sign of the cross.

As part of the consecration of the Chrism, balsam is poured into the oil, which gives it a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the "odor of sanctity" to which those people and things who are marked with it, and by extension all of us, are called to strive for.

Breakdown of the Palm Sunday Altar:

This year for Palm Sunday the Altar was decorated with three types of plants: 4 Areca Palms used by the pulpit and behind the sanctuary lamps, 2 Yucca plants placed in the narrow niches on either side of the main Altar, and 6 Dragon Trees which were placed in the middle six niches of the main Altar.  We also incorporated Dried Natural Fan Sun Palm Fronds in 6 urns mixed with palm strips to accent the Altar Table the Tabernacle and the Pulpit and Lectern stand. Below the Dragon Trees was placed red stain material to bring contrast to the green of the palms and gold pot covers. Red banners were hung behind the Altar to make the sanctuary warm and emphasis the liturgical color Red which reminds us of the Blood spilled for all. Lastly upon our Lenten cross was hung a statue of the crucified Christ as a point of refection during the reading of the passion. This particular statue is the same one that formally hung on the large oak cross above the Altar at Cabrini Chapel, Strong Place and Degraw, before its closing. The statue which had historically been placed on the cross, until the 1970s, is the one which is now permanently placed in the glass coffin and used for the Good Friday Procession.