The pinnacle of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil. The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:
Please attend as we participate in the saving mysteries of Christ’s love and mercy for us.
May you and your families experience an abundance of peace, hope and love during the Easter season.
During the course of Jesus’ revelations to Saint Faustina on the Divine Mercy he asked that a feast day be dedicated to Divine Mercy and that this feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Concerning the Feast of Mercy, Jesus said: “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies.”
Please participate and invite others to join you for the Divine Mercy celebrations being held in many parishes throughout the diocese on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16. I would love to list them all, but there are too many to list individually. I encourage you to contact your parish office to find out what celebrations are being held in your area. Many of them begin or end at 3PM, the hour of Mercy.
It’s been a joy to see many of you at the Year of Mercy visits in your parishes. I enjoy hearing your stories. My heart and prayers for healing and mercy go out to so many of you when I hear the tragedies and difficulties of your lives. If I haven’t made it to your parish yet, I am very much looking forward to the visit!
Mercy is like a gentle rain upon the earth. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in western Kansas who could surely use many April showers. May the Lord provide several gentle rains upon their land. Thank you!
I was asked to shoot free throws for Catholic Charities at the annual Match Madness Event sponsored by the Greater Salina Community Foundation. I made six free throws…not out of ten, but 15. That’s 40% from the free throw line. Ouch. I guess I should forget about my hopes of trying out for the K-State basketball team.
I am on a USCCB committee for the Church in Eastern and Central Europe. I am making a mission trip to Bulgaria and Slovakia from April 16 – 27. Is there anyone in the diocese from Bulgaria or Slovakia? I am also going to spend a day in Rome visiting my nephew who is a seminarian studying at the North American College.
Please know of my love and prayers. It’s always great to see you throughout the diocese and beyond.
Bishop Vincke
Some Easter quotes to ponder:
“For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.”
~ Alice Freeman Palmer (1855-1902), First female college president
“But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust.”
~ Walter Raleigh
“Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless.”
~ Charles M. Crowe
“Now let the heavens be joyful,
Let earth her song begin:
Let the round world keep triumph,
And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible,
Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen
Our joy that hath no end.”
– Saint John of Damascus
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
~ Pope John Paul II
“Dear sister, dear brother, even if in your heart you have buried hope, do not give up: God is greater. Darkness and death do not have the last word. Be strong, for with God nothing is lost!”
~ Pope Francis
