March 18, 2005
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"I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people." - Oscar Romero |
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There are forty days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday. We spend these days in prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, so that we can fully become the baptized people we are, living by the gospel. In this way, we prepare to baptize the catechumens.
What is the Triduum? What’s it all about? Why are these three days so important? What do they mean for you?
Triduum is the Latin word for "three days". These three days are at the core of our faith for they represent who Jesus is, and what he did for us. The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday night and continues through Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The three days conclude on Sunday afternoon.
The Easter Triduum is one liturgy, a festival in honor of the God who raised up Jesus from the dead. The community is invited to plan ahead so that the whole time, from Thursday night until the Easter Vigil, is free of social engagements, free of work, free of entertainment, free of meals, except for the simplest nourishment. We are invited to make these three days different from all the days of the year.
Holy Thursday brings the end to Lent and the beginning of the three days that are the center of our year. Jesus gave us this image of what the church is supposed to look like, feel like, act like, so this is the evening we imitate Jesus and we wash each other’s feet. He modeled how we should be of service to one another. The evening liturgy has no ending. We remain to watch and pray and continue through Good Friday.
On Good Friday, we are asked to fast and to continue fasting, if possible, all through Holy Saturday, as strictly as we can, so that we come hungry and full of excitement to the Easter Vigil. This day we pause at the tomb, and come forward, one by one, to reverence the cross. It is preparation day. We make Good Friday and Holy Saturday free for prayer and reflection and preparation and silence. The church is getting ready.
The heart of the Triduum is the Easter Vigil, the Christian Passover; the time when we rise with Christ and discover what we need within to immerse catechumens or candidates for baptism into the flood of death and the bath of new birth. Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, while the church is in darkness, it is the pinnacle of the church’s whole year. The church keeps vigil, baptizes the catechumens, and celebrates the Eucharist. The Three Days conclude on Sunday afternoon.
The Fifty Days following the Triduum are the days of Easter, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. The Fifty Days mark the time of birth, marriage, festival and feasting. They are like the wedding of earth and heaven, Christ and the church. The early church allowed no kneeling and no fasting and sang "alleluia" constantly.
The above article was submitted by Sylvia Stoddart.
The Triduum schedule is as follows:
| Holy Thursday : | Mass of the Lord's Supper | - | 7:30 PM |
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| Good Friday : | Stations of the Cross | - | 12:00 PM | |
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Celebration of the Lord's Passion :
(veneration of the cross to follow) |
English | - | 1:00 PM | |
| English | - | 5:00 PM | ||
| Spanish | - | 7:30 PM | ||
| Holy Saturday : * | Easter Vigil | - | 7:30 PM | |
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Easter Sunday is normal Mass schedule. |
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| * There will be no 5:15 or 7:00 PM Mass on Saturday. | ||||
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the
Assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero
On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero gave his last sermon. A sharpshooter's bullet killed him as he celebrated mass.
The day before his murder, Archbishop Romero made the following appeal to the men of the Salvadorean Armed Forces:
"Brothers, you came from our own people. You are killing your own brothers. Any human order to kill must be subordinate to the law of God, which says, 'Thou shalt not kill'. No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. No one has to obey an immoral law. It is high time you obeyed your consciences rather than sinful orders. The church cannot remain silent before such an abomination. ...In the name of God, in the name of this suffering people whose cry rises to heaven more loudly each day, I implore you, I beg you, I order you: Stop the repression."
Oscar was not always an outspoken advocate for justice, but after living among the poor, he saw that he could not remain silent. To learn more about this saint of our times, visit the following websites or rent the video "Romero" and share it with your friends and family.
www.rtfcam.org/martyrs/romero/romero.htm
salt.claretianpubs.org/romero/romero.html
Cesar Chavez Breakfast
will take place on
March
31 at the Mexican Heritage Center, starting with registration at 7:30 AM.
The commemoration will start at
8:15 AM. Cesar
Chavez lived nearby in East San Jose when he started his work to improve the
lives of farm workers. Speakers will include his nephew, Rudy Chavez, and
his niece, Lydia Chavez Medina. Cost is $25 and tickets can be purchased at
the San Jose Stage Company. Call 408-283-7142.
Active SJV Parishioner, Beth Gonzales,
has thrown
her hat into
the ring in 
the
race for City Council. Beth is a well known member of the parish,
serving as lector and active in PACT (People Acting in Community
Together, a community activist organization). She has been an outstanding
advocate for our neighborhood, working on many issues with PACT including
the new Alum Rock Youth Center, health care for all children in the county,
and the Small School Movement in the Alum Rock School District.
Beth and her husband, David, live in District 7, which is not where most of the parish could vote for her, but it is good to know that leaders from our church are also involved in issues for the good of the larger community. Beth is a long-time History teacher who understands that we are all responsible for the community at large.
Did you know that there is a monthly newsletter that covers stories about people and events in our neighborhood? The newsletter is available free, via the Internet, or for a small fee a printed version can be mailed to you. The newsletter, called New Neighborhood Voice, covers people and events in the Alum Rock Corridor (Alum Rock Park, Alum Rock Village, Country Club Heights, Country Club Villa, East Highlands, East Hills, Hillcrest, James Lick High School, Kirk/Fleming, Lyndale, Mayfair, Mt. Hamilton, and Toyon)
To subscribe, email JudyET@NNVESJ.org with "Subscribe" in the subject line. If you know folks without email who are interested, have them call 408-272-7008.
"Stand Up for Justice" is a ground breaking film based on the story of the Mexican American teenager, Ralph Lazo, who in 1941, outraged by the forced internment of his Japanese American friends, boarded a train to Manzanar to join them. A special showing is on Saturday, March 19, at 10:30 AM, at the Camera 12 Cinemas, 201 South Second Street, San Jose. The film will be followed by discussion and a question and answer session with the Director, John Esaki, and the Producer, Amy Kato.
Special Request:
The San Jose Family Shelter is in need of Easter
baskets for the children residing there. If you can donate a basket,
goodies, or can volunteer some time to assemble baskets, please call Nikki
at 408-926-8885. What a great way to involve your family with other families
in need.
Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 9 AM to 5 PM
Location: Evergreen Valley College
Fee: Adults $25, Youth $10TO REGISTER:
Go to www.carrythevision.net OR mail your check to:
Carry the Vision, c/o Council Member Dave Cortese,
801 No. First Street, Room 600, San Jose, CA 95110
(Please make check payable to "CSE: Carry the Vision")
For more information, visit the website or call Dave Cortese at 408-277-5242.
The Interfaith Council on Religion, Race, Economic & Social Justice, a group that brings Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and others together, invites you to join other people of faith exploring our common call to justice. Their Faith In Action Series meets Thursday evenings, April 7 through May 12, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. This six-session course will bring together progressive spiritual activists from diverse traditions to learn, connect, and mobilize. For more information, see the March 11 issue of the SJV Newsletter or contact Rev. Carol Been at 408-269-7872 x577 or carol@atwork.org .
Remember that we are taking up a special collection on Easter Sunday for tsunami relief. Instead of just "giving something up for Lent" why not see what changes you can make to your lifestyle that might be used to help tsunami victims.
The Annual St. John Vianney Fiesta "Celebrating Our Diversity" is quickly approaching. This year it is set for May 20 through May 22. We need CHAIRS and CO-CHAIRS....Manage a booth (Chair position) or assist in managing (Co-Chair position). If you are interested in the above Fiesta Positions, please contact: David Couch at 408-314-2393 or at dcouch36@sbcglobal.net, or Patricia Tovar at patricia.tovar@arusd.org.
This Week :
Palm Sunday, March 20
Gospel at the Procession: Matthew 21:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-7
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 26:14--27:66
John 11:1-45Next Week:
Holy Thursday, March 24
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15 26Good Friday, March 25
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1--19:42
Easter Vigil, March 26
Genesis 1:1--2:2
Genesis 22:1-18
Exodus 14:15--15:1
Isaiah 54:5-14
Isaiah 55:1-11
Baruch 3:9-15, 32--4:4
Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28
Romans 6:3-11
Matthew 28:1-10
Easter Sunday, March 27
Acts 10:34a. 37-43
Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
John 20:1-9 or, afternoon, Luke 24:13-35Praying the Scriptures:
Visit this web site for ideas on
praying the Scriptures:
www.liturgy.slu.eduTake a Moment to Pray:
Visit this web site for ideas on
the Ignatious way to pray:
www.sacredspace.ie
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