Dear Parishioners,

As we approach the holiest days of the Year, we wanted to make you aware of some changes in the celebrations this year from past years. Please note these changes and plan accordingly.  

Palm Sunday
The first Gospel and the blessing of palms will be done from the back of the church. The palms will be processed to the sanctuary and distributed at the entrances of the church following the final blessing and procession. For those who were unable to attend mass in person, distribution of palms will be available following the 11:00 AM Mass at St. Nicholas Church. We will offer a pickup line from the Great Hall under the canopy starting at 12:15 PM. You can drive up and pick up your palms without leaving your car. We will conclude the distribution of palms at 12:45 PM.

Holy Thursday
Service will begin at 6:00 PM at St. Nicholas Church. This year we are able to perform the washing of feet. Mass will proceed as normal. Following Holy Communion, we will process with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose off to the side of the church. Following the Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be available till 9:00 PM.

Good Friday
Stations of the Cross will be live-streamed from St. Nicholas Church at 12:00 PM. This is the only service that will be live-streamed. Good Friday Service will be held at Holy Trinity Church at 3:00 PM. The service will be conducted as normal. However, parishioners will be asked to remain at their pews for the veneration of the Cross to avoid kissing or touching the Cross.

Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil
This service will begin outside of St. Nicholas Church at 8:00 PM with the blessing of fire and of the Paschal Candle.  Those who wish to do so may join us outside or even to remain outside upon arriving at the church.  While we will be processing into church with lit candles, all are reminded of the need to distance from one another as much as possible. The renewal of our baptismal vows and the sprinkling rite will take place as normal.

Following the Easter Vigil, Fr. Marian will host a small social gathering in the lower church. The Altar & Rosary Society will provide doughnuts and coffee for this social event to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, Jesus. CDC guidelines will be observed during the event. Masks and social distancing are required during this social.

Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday Masses will be held at St. Nicholas at 8:00 AM, Holy Trinity at 9:30 AM, and St Nicholas at 11:00 AM. Masses will include the proclamation of the Easter Sequence, the renewal of baptismal promises, and the sprinkling rite.

Live Stream
All Masses and Services listed above that take place at St. Nicholas Church will be live-streamed to the parish Facebook page. You can find the link on the parish Website. Additionally, we will be using the lower church of St. Nicholas as an overflow space for those who wish to join us for masses/services but are concerned about crowds and spacing. We will distribute Holy Communion to those in the overflow space as if you were with up in the upper church.

Please be patriate with us in the process of live streaming. There are many unknown variables that can arise at any moment that can cause difficulties. Know we will be working hard to ensure that masses will be live-streamed for all.

Although the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Masses will continue for the foreseeable future, we hope that if you are able to attend liturgies, you will, since the liturgy and the Eucharist are the source and summit of our Catholic faith. But if you are unable to, we hope you will be able to join us via live stream from home.

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday                                                             Blessing of Easter Food on Holy Saturday
8:00 AM – Holy Trinity                                             12:00 PM – St. Nicholas
11:00 AM – St. Nicholas                                            1:00 PM – Holy Trinity

Holy Thursday                                                          Easter Vigil Mass
6:00 PM – St. Nicholas                                               8:00 PM – St. Nicholas

Good Friday                                                              Easter Sunday
12:00 PM – St. Nicholas (Stations of the Cross)        8:00 AM – St. Nicholas
3:00 PM – Holy Trinity                                              9:30 AM – Holy Trinity
                                                                                    11:00 AM – St. Nicholas

God Bless and keep us holy during the remaining Lenten season
Fr. Marian Babjak