Holy Week
** all times listed are Illinois Central Time
Holy Thursday, Mass of The Lord's Supper
- 5 p.m. with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
- 5 p.m. with Fr. Rocky, Relevant Radio
- 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, Benton, Illinois
- Mass of The Lord's Supper with Pope Francis
Good Friday
- Celebration of The Lord's Passion with Pope Francis at 11 a.m., EWTN
- Litany of the Sacred Heart, 11a.m. live with Archbishop Gomez
- Liturgy of The Lord's Passion at 2 p.m. with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
- Liturgy of The Lord's Passion at 2 p.m., Saginaw
- Liturgy of The Lord's Passion at 3 p.m., Archdiocese of Chicago
- Stations of the Cross in a Pandemic (pre-recorded)
- Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m. on Facebook with Fr. Mark Toups, Ascension Presents
- Liturgy at St. Joseph Catholic Church Benton, Illinois
- Divine Mercy Novena
-- 9-day novena starts on Good Friday in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19
* click each day and tap the play button on the radio at the bottom of the page
Holy Saturday
- The Shroud of Turin at 6 p.m., a 60-minute documentary, EWTN
- Easter Vigil Mass with Pope Francis, 2 p.m.
- Easter Vigil Mass at 2 p.m., EWTN
- Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
- Easter Vigil Mass at 10 p.m., EWTN
Easter Sunday
- Mass at 9 a.m. with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
- Mass at 10 a.m. live from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church Benton, Illinois
- Easter Sunday Mass with Pope Francis at 6 p.m.
The first Easter was wrapped in mystery, worry, violence and death, yet God proclaimed life. This year, our celebration of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday will look vastly different due to the Coronavirus.
But make no mistake, we will worship the triumphant, crucified, and risen Lord in whatever way we can. Because that’s who we are as Christians and as Catholics, whether we are in our church or in our homes . . . that's who we are!
Here are some ways to live your faith during Holy Week and for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PRAY: Set aside a specific time each day to sit with Jesus and talk with Him. To have a relationship with our Savior, we have to spend time with Him. Pray as you go about your daily tasks and routines, whether it’s washing the dishes or taking a walk. Use the "open church" time, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, for private prayer. You can even do your own Stations of the Cross with this special version in light of the current pandemic.
SERVE: Social distance is necessary, but distance in our relationships is not. Let’s seize the opportunity to check on our relatives, neighbors and fellow parishioners. Call someone who might be lonely. Let’s build a relational bridge when the virus wants to create a social moat.
WORSHIP: Holy Week services will be streamed live on Facebook: Holy Thursday and Good Friday services are both at 6 p.m. Holy Saturday is at 8 p.m., and Easter Sunday is at 10 a.m. There are also many other Holy Week liturgies that are being offered online. Ascension Live has a full schedule of opportunities to help us make the most of this sacred week.
READ: Delve into a faith-enriching book such as Rediscover Catholicism or dig deeper into Scripture with a daily devotional such as Word Among Us. Accompany Jesus during Holy Week through the Gospels. Pick a Gospel such as Matthew and immerse yourself in the events leading up to the resurrection. One option is outline here:
- Palm Sunday: Matthew 21
- Monday: Matthew 22
- Tuesday: Matthew 23
- Wednesday: Matthew 24–25
- Holy Thursday: Matthew 26
- Good Friday: Matthew 27
- Easter Sunday: Matthew 28