Good Friday
April 18
10:00 am Stations of the Cross for Children 2:00 pm Stations of the Cross 3:00 pm Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday Homily: “The throne of love” 5:00 pm Confessions The Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday falls into four parts:
1. Scripture Readings We begin with the Liturgy of the Word. We recount and reflect on our Lord’s Passion through the reading of Holy Scripture, hymns, and preaching. 2. Solemn Prayers of Intercession There follows a series of prayers for the whole church and the world. These are ancient in form, from the earliest recorded observances of Good Friday. 3. The Veneration of the Cross We then venerate ‘the Wood of the Cross.’ It is a devotion of our gratitude for Jesus’ death on the Cross. At the appropriate time you may come forward to the Cross to genuflect before it and kiss it. During this time the choir will sing the ‘Reproaches’ which recall Jesus’ agony, not in physical pain, but in the pain of rejection by those he has come to save. 4. Holy Communion The liturgy concludes with Holy Communion, the final opportunity to receive the Sacrament until the first Mass of Easter. We have entered as fully as possible into the saving death and Passion of our Lord. First, in our minds as we listened to the Word; then with our wills, in exercising the love Jesus taught us by praying for all people; in our emotions, in grateful veneration of His Cross; and finally by our sacramental union with this Victim of the Cross in Holy Communion. By so entering into His Passion and death, we are carried along to the glory of His Resurrection.
Holy Saturday
9:00 pm
April 19
The Great Vigil and First Mass of Easter with the Sacrament of Holy Baptism Homily: “The theatre of joys”
The St. James Choir is joined by the Oculus Chamber Choir in singing American composer Gerre Hancock’s joyful Missa Resurrectionis, along with other exquisite choral works for Easter. The Holy Saturday Rite is the link between the solemnity of Good Friday and the celebration of Easter. It is a drama of the creation and the redemption, beginning as a solemn night, with the church in near darkness. We see God gradually revealed to us in Light (The Liturgy of the New Fire); in Word (the Prophetic readings); in Water (the blessing of the Font, Baptism, and the renewal of Baptismal vows); and in Food, as we celebrate our salvation and new life in Christ with the first Mass of Easter.
Pentecost
8:30 am 10:30 am
June 8
Low Mass High Mass with Procession and the Sacrament of Holy Baptism
EVERY SUNDAY OF THE YEAR On the last Sunday of the month holy anointing is offered after each Mass, and Solemn Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is sung at 4:00 pm in the Church (except during July and August). The Sacrament of Reconciliation Confession, in addition to the publicized times, is available by making an appointment with any of the Parish priests.
THE FIFTY DAYS OF EASTER Easter Day
April 20
8:30 am Low Mass of the Resurrection 9:30 am No Formation session 10:30 am High Mass of the Resurrection with Procession and Blessing of the Easter Garden Homily: “The place of sorrows: The root of happiness, and the gate of Heaven.” The St. James’ Choir is joined by the Oculus Chamber Choir and a UBC brass ensemble in presenting brilliant works for choir, organ, and brass, including ‘Missa Resurrectionis’ by Gerre Hancock and the anthem ‘Most Glorious Lord of Life’ by Gerald Near, based on the text by Edmund Spenser. 5:00 pm
Evensong and Benediction in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
303 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1L4 Telephone: 604-685-2532 Email: office@stjames.bc.ca www.stjames.bc.ca
The image on the front of the brochure is of a carved mother-of-pearl baptismal shell depicting the Resurrection. It belonged to Fr. Whitehead, and is the type of work done in the Holy Land by Christian artisans. He likely acquired it during his travels. At the time of his retirement, in 1951, Fr. Whitehead presented the shell to Audrey (Sutherland) Davison. Upon her death, her husband returned the shell to St. James’ as a way of restoring a bit of the past. The shell will be used this year at the Easter Vigil. Photo by Chris Loh.
Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2014