Easter

What is Easter?

Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, His victory over death, fulfillment of God’s promise. The Christian faith does not make sense without Easter! Easter Sunday marks the end of Holy Week, the end of the Lenten Season, it is the third day of the Paschal Triduum, and the first day of the Easter season.

Attend Easter Mass

Attend Easter Mass at a Family of Parishes nearest you. Use our interactive map at: https://dol.ca/parishfinder. Please contact the parish or visit their website to get up-to-date Mass times. 

Lent: A Time of Preparation

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days leading to Easter. More than giving something up, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity). Learn more here.

Holy Week

Beginning with Palm Sunday, Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter with particular focus on Jesus’ journey to the Cross.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is one week before Easter. Christians celebrate Palm Sunday in commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, blessing and distributing palm branches at Mass.

Paschal Triduum

Three days leading to the celebration of Easter are collectively referred to as the Paschal Triduum, or Easter Triduum. Although observances take place over three days, each of these three celebrations tell a different part of Jesus’ passion narrative. Each of these three celebrations are part of the same liturgy. The moments of the Paschal Triduum are these: (day 1) from sunset on Holy Thursday until sunset on Good Friday; (day 2) from sunset on Good Friday to sunset on Holy Saturday; and (day 3) sunset on Holy Saturday until sunset on Easter Sunday.

Holy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter is known as Holy Thursday. This first moment in the three parts of the Paschal Triduum commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (Jn 13.1-17), and celebrating the Last Supper (Mt 26.17-35; Lk 22.19-27) with them. Foot washing is incorporated into the celebration of Holy Thursday Mass. After Holy Thursday, Mass is not celebrated again until Easter Sunday.

Good Friday

The second moment in the three parts of the Paschal Triduum is commemorated with Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. On this day Christians remember Jesus’ dying on a Cross. At Good Friday liturgies, Christians venerate the Cross in commemoration of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. This is an important moment in Christian history because without dying, Jesus could not have risen from the dead on Easter Sunday. Easter does not make sense without the Cross.

Holy Saturday

The third moment of the Paschal Triduum is commemorated with Holy Saturday, the last day of Holy Week, and the Saturday before Easter. The only liturgy celebrated on this day is the Easter Vigil, which is full of the signs and symbols of the Christian faith. Christians gather outside their local Churches after sunset, in darkness wherever possible. An Easter fire is lit, from which the Church’s new Paschal Candle is lit, and all who are gathered share in bringing light into darkness by carrying candles, lit first from the Paschal Candle. A series of readings are read. Catechumens are initiated into the Catholic faith. Alleluia! is sung for the first time since before the Lenten season – He is risen!

Easter Season

The season of Easter is celebrated for a period of 50 days, or 7 weeks, concluding with the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Sunday, May 23, 2021).