April 2025

April Devotion: The Holy Spirit 

Liturgical Seasons:
April 1-16, Lent
April 17-19, Holy Triduum
April 20-30, Easter

April 6 - PaSSION SUNDAY

On Passion Sunday, we begin to turn our focus from the sacrifices of Lent to the inevitability of Jesus dying on the cross. Prior to Vatican II, this began 'Passiontide.' Passion Sunday and 'Passiontide' are not commonly practiced to this day, but we are still allowed to practice the beautiful traditions and solemnness of these times. 

We should all have a crucifix and Catholic art around our home. On Passion Sunday we should cover or veil these pieces in our homes just as they do in our parishes. This can help prepare our hearts and center our minds for the death and resurrection of our Lord. You could also take the pieces down for the time being if you cannot veil them. 

April 13 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of Christ

Get your Palm Fronds and commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem at Mass. Palm fronds given at Mass are sacramentals (material objects that can help dispose us to receive the grace available in the sacraments). Because the palms are blessed, they may not be thrown away. You may bring them home and place them where it would best fit your space. 

Lacy from The Catholic Icing blog shows you how to fold a cross out of a palm frond in this video in a few easy steps. 

Holy Week

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues through Holy Saturday evening when the Easter Vigil is celebrated. The best way to commemorate these holy days are to spend more time together as a family and make it to any and all Masses you can. 

April 16 - Spy Wednesday

Read: Matthew 26: 14-16 & Luke 22: 3-6, The story of Judas betraying Jesus

Spy Wednesday is an older term for the Wednesday of Holy Week. This is the day Judas betrayed Jesus by telling the High Priest when Jesus would be where they could arrest him. In return, Judas received thirty pieces of silver.

Activity for Children: Hide thirty pieces of silver (real coins or chocolate coins) and after watching how your children sneak around each other to find the most coins this is a great time to discuss greed and how easy it can be to make a poor decision. After the discussion, consider having your children drop the coins they found into the offering plate at church or giving their chocolate to a friend or cousin. 

April 17 - Holy Thursday

The first day of the Triduum is Holy Thursday. We recall the Passover from the Old Testament and recall the Last Supper from the New Testament. At the Last Supper, we received both the institution of the Eucharist and the sacramental priesthood. Two HUGE pillars of the Catholic faith given to us straight from the Last Supper.

Frans Pourbus the Younger — The Last Supper, 1618

Following the Holy Thursday Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is taken out of the tabernacle in the church, which is left open and empty. The Sacrament, in a temporary tabernacle, is placed on an Altar of Repose in a different location in the church or an adjacent chapel or other room for Adoration. Make a plan on coming back sometime during the night to pray in front of Jesus. If you have small children, take turns after the kids go to bed and come lay before the Lord and unite yourself in the moments of His passion.

Jesus and the Apostles were celebrating Passover at the Last Supper through the practice of the Seder Meal. We are not called to practice the Jewish faith in anyway, but we can host a Catholic version of a Seder Meal to be reminded of our ancestors and how Jesus fulfilled the covenants God made with his people. 
Seder Meal for Christians

Watch: Catholic All Year at Home with Kendra Tierney on Formed
Seven Altars of Repose Tradition

April 18 - Good Friday 

Read: Matthew 26: 30-27, Mark 14:26 - 15:47, Luke 22: 39 - 23:56, and John 18:1 - 19:42

Good Friday is meant to be a solemn and somber day. The day our Lord died on a cross. It is one of two days we are required to fast & abstain, with the other day being Ash Wednesday. This is also when we recall the great sacrifice Jesus made by saving us from the power of sin and death forever.

With young children, explaining death and talking about death all week can be hard for them It is important to make sure you incorporate why Jesus did this for us. Jesus loves us. His love for us is why he died on the Cross. When we look at a crucifix we remember that love Jesus has for us. A common tradition both at the services and something you can do at home is the practice of venerating the cross. 

Did you know? There are no Masses said today. Many parishes have services, but no hosts are consecrated, which means there is not a Liturgy of the Eucharist. The priests use the hosts consecrated from Thursday's Mass for the service held on Good Friday. 

Venerating the Cross at Home 
Good Friday Conversation Starters

April 19 - Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil

Holy Saturday is a commemoration of Jesus' body laying in the tomb. It is the day before we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is meant to mostly be a solemn and somber day just like Good Friday, until the sun sets. The Catholic Church begins each liturgical day at nightfall. That is why we have Vigil Masses on Saturdays throughout the year and why we can begin celebrating Easter at the Vigil on Holy Saturday. 

Traditions at the Easter Vigil different then a normal Sunday Mass:

1. Service of Light
   1. The whole church is dark, the priest prepares a fire and lights the Paschal (Easter) Candle for the first time. The Paschal candle then lights individual candles for each parishioner and the the community processes into the church. 
2. Easter Proclamation
   1. This proclamation is sung or chanted to remind everyone of the Lord's saving graces. The proclamation reviews the past to set up the hopes and promising future we can all strive to have with the Lord one day.
3. Welcoming of Catechumens to the Church
   1. This year in Queen of Peace Pastorate we have 3 Catechumens. These are members who will be baptized, confirmed, and welcomed in the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Please pray for these individuals as the begin their journey of faith.

April 20 - Easter Sunday

"We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!" - Pope JPII

Easter is one of the most substantial feast days of the entire liturgical year, so party accordingly! If your family did not go to Easter Vigil, go to Mass! All four of our parishes have Masses for Easter Sunday! Enjoy the day with your family, we walked with Jesus for 40 days in the desert of Lent, now is our time to enter the glory of His resurrection. 

April 20-June 8 - Easter Season

After fasting, praying, and giving alms throughout the 40 days of Lent, we enter the liturgical season of Eastertide. We consider Lent to be so long:40 days and nights, but the season of Easter is even longer: a whole 50 days! How can we celebrate for 50 whole days? 

The best way to enter into the Easter season is to keep up with your goals and good habits you created during Lent, especially prayer habits. 

April 27 - Divine Mercy Sunday

St. Maria Faustina Kowalska received a series of revelations from our Lord calling for a special feast day the Sunday after Easter. We know the feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by St. John Paul II. This feast day is not solely based on the Saint's revelations. Liturgically the Easter Octave has always been centered on the theme of forgiveness and mercy. This day points us to the merciful love of God and the paschal mystery. The whole mystery of the death, burial, and resurrection which was made present for us in the Eucharist. Which in total sums up the whole Easter Octave. 

Faustina's diary recorded promises to be received of extraordinary graces on Dive Mercy Sunday three times. 

• I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (1109).
• Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (300).
• The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (699).

To receive these graces, one must receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil) by making a good Confession beforehand and staying in the state of grace and trusting in His Divine Mercy. 

By these conditions, our Lord is emphasizing the value of Confession and Holy Communion as miracles of mercy. The Eucharist is Jesus, Himself, the Living God, longing to pour Himself as Mercy into our hearts. 

First Communions

Second graders of St. Mary's, St. Joseph the Workman, and St. Peter's will receive their first Communion on April 27th. Please pray for these students as they receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. 

St. Peter's - During the 8:30 am Sunday Mass
St. Mary's - 12 pm First Communion Mass for family and friends of communicants. 

How do you live liturgically in April at your home? Did your family use these at your home? What questions do you have? Let us know by emailing [email protected] or tag us on Facebook @queenofpeacesd!