Today is Holy Thursday.  I have been on a Holy Week Retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center.  My SFO sister Rosemarie has been picking me up at 6:30, so that we can begin with Mass every morning.  It has been wonderful.

Today there will be no Mass in the morning.  The Triduum starts today.  The Triddum consists of one Liturgy that continues through Easter Vigil, which is Saturday.  Tonight we celebrate Holy Thursday.  This is the night when Jesus had the Last Supper with his Apostles, the washing of the feet and the Sacrament of Eucharist was established.  There is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.  At the end of the evening the priest says the celebration will continue tomorrow.  There is no concluding prayer.  On Good Friday, we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ's Crucifixion.  It is a very solemn evening.  The celebration of the Triduum continues on Saturday evening with the great Easter Vigil.  All the stops are pulled for the beautiful Easter Liturgy. 

The RCIA Elect are welcomed into the Church.  The celebration is about three hours long.  It is filled with readings of God's Word, which is our rich heritage, beautiful music, liturgical movement and last but certainly not least the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This celebration blows me away.  There is so much prayerfulness, Church History and Scripture in the celebration to experience.

Everyone should experience this celebration at least one time in their life.  My husband and I have been going to Easter Vigil for nineteen years.  We wouldn't have it any other way.

This year we will serve our community as Hospitality Ministers at the Triduum.  It is our way of saying thank you for loving us.

Alleluia, He Is Risen!