SPECIAL REPORT: HOLY THURSDAY

 

Fr. John McLoughlin, CSsR, Pastor of St. Patrick Church on St. Croix explained the Tenebrae morning service. Parishioners recited prayers and extinguished candles to begin the holy days of the Easter triduum.

 

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper in order to teach them that after his death they were to dedicate their lives and their ministries to the service of others. During the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, the celebrant similarly washes the feet of 12 parishioners. Pictured above, Very Rev. Neil Scantlebury washed the feet of 12 men at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thoma

The congregation at St. Patrick Church on St. Croix tried something new this past Holy Thursday. While Fr. John McLoughlin, CSsR, Pastor, washed the feet of 12 parishioners at the sanctuary, four members of the Parish Council offered to wash the hands of the rest of the congregation. Pictured above, Norma Soto held a water pitcher while a parishioner dried his hands. Federick Brown, Nancy Soto, Charlene Matthew and Sandra Howell also participated in this event. Both washings of feet and hands were symbolic of Christ's call to service at the Last Supper.

Sufficient hosts are consecrated at the Mass on Holy Thursday for distribution the following day, when there is no Mass. At the conclusion of the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, the celebrant moves the remaining Eucharist from the church sanctuary in a procession to an altar of repose. Parishioners are invited to follow the procession and stay in prayer before the Eucharist until late at night. Pictured above at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, the deacons and Fr. Slawek Romanowski, Parochial Vicar, preceded Fr. Pat Lynch, Pastor, who carried the Eucharist under the canopy to its overnight location.