April 17, 2025

Parishes mark Easter Triduum with Masses and services

REGIONAL
Staff report

(iObserve photo/courtesy Mary Jeanne Tash)

SPRINGFIELD – The Diocese of Springfield is offering many different Masses and services as Catholics prepare to enter into the Easter Triduum, from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. Easter is the holiest day on the Christian calendar which begins with the great Easter Vigil after sunset on Saturday.

Bishop Byrne will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 17, at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield at 7 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration to follow. Most parishes will have Eucharistic Adoration after the Holy Thursday Mass, in which the consecrated host is exposed in a monstrance on the altar.

Several local groups will also make the Seven Church Visitation, or Visita Iglesia, which dates back to the early church when Christians visited the seven shrines connected with the Lord’s passion. As part of the tradition, pilgrims will visit local churches and attend Eucharistic Adoration, in an effort to “keep watch” with Jesus.

On Good Friday, several churches will host living Stations of the Cross including St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke at 12 p.m.; Blessed Sacrament and All Souls Parishes in Springfield at 12 p.m.; St. Mary Parish in Westfield at 2 p.m.; and Holy Cross Parish in Springfield at 7 p.m.

Also on Good Friday, Bishop Byrne will lead the Pro-Life Stations of the Cross outside of Planned Parenthood in Springfield. Typically, as many as 100 people attend to peacefully pray for an end to abortion and for the protection of all human life.

Students from St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham participated in the Seven Church Pilgrimage on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024.

“The Easter Triduum offers us an amazing opportunity to enter into the Passion of our Lord. Jesus took on unfathomable suffering just because of you and me. He paid for our sins so we would have the promise of heaven and salvation,” said Bishop Byrne.

“Please take the time to attend Holy Thursday Mass, which is all about the Eucharist, Jesus giving of himself, body, blood, soul and divinity as truly present in every single Mass. On Good Friday we contemplate on his suffering. And at the Easter Vigil, we recognize the light of Christ, celebrate his resurrection and we welcome in new Catholics into the church, who complete their sacraments of initiation. And on Easter Sunday, we again celebrate Christ’s victory on a cross, and shout ‘Alleulia,’ from the roof tops,” he said.

Bishop Byrne will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Saturday April 19 at 7 p.m. He will celebrate Mass on Easter Sunday at 10 a.m. This Mass will be broadcast live on the “Chalice of Salvation,” on WWLP-22 News.

A full listing of Holy Week Mass and service times can be found at www.disospringfield.org.