April 15, 2011
Catholics in diocese invited to Holy Week services at cathedral
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
The Church recommends that the bishop gather with his people at the cathedral to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, especially during Holy Week, according to Matt Miller, diocesan director of the Office of Worship.
Miller wanted to make sure the people of the diocese know that they are invited to Morning Prayer at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
“What better way to spend those days preparing for the great Easter celebration than by gathering at our diocesan church to pray with our shepherd!” said Miller.
Mass is not celebrated on those mornings. Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger will preside at Morning Prayer each day at 9 a.m.
Although the Mass is much more familiar to the general Catholic population, Morning Prayer and other examples of the Liturgy of the Hours are part of the official prayer of the Church.
“The public and communal prayer of the people of God is truly one of the primary res-ponsibilities of the Church,” said Miller, quoting directly from the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours. “The Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office, helps to sanctify the day through prayer. Morning Pray-er and Evening Prayer stand as the ‘hinge’ hours, giving us the opportunity to start and end the day in prayer.”
Deacon David Cook at St. Benedict Cathedral said that praying together “reinforces our awareness that God is the center of our lives, and we experience that more deeply when we remember that God is present to each of us not only in his spirit but also in the person of each and every other member of our community.”
Praying and singing in community also “reminds us of our deep spiritual connection not only with those currently living around us, but also with our spiritual ancestors, especially as we pray or sing the Psalms.”
The Holy Week and Easter schedule of liturgies at St. Benedict Cathedral includes Mass with Bishop Gettelfinger presiding on Palm Sunday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
Bishop Gettelfinger will also preside at the following:
- Palm Sunday Evening Prayer, April 17, at 5:30 p.m.
- The Chrism Mass, on Tuesday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. CDT.
- Mass on Holy Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m. CDT.
- Morning Prayer on Friday, April 22, 9 a.m. CDT.
- Good Friday Service, on Friday, April 22, at 12:30 p.m. CDT.
- Morning Prayer on Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. CDT.
- Vigil Mass of Resurrection, Holy Saturday, April 23, 8:30 p.m.
- Easter, Mass of Resurrection, Sunday, April 24, 10:30 a.m. CDT.