Bishop McClory's Holy Week Schedule:
Thursday, April 17
Chrism Mass, 10:30 a.m., Cathedral of the Holy Angels, Gary
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m., St. Mary, Crown Point
Friday, April 18
Stations of the Cross, 12 p.m., The Shrine of Christ’s Passion, St. John
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, 7 p.m., St. Paul, Valparaiso (Spanish)
Saturday, April 19
Holy Saturday, 8 p.m., St. Teresa of Avila, Valparaiso
Sunday, April 20
Easter Sunday, 11 a.m., Cathedral of the Holy Angels, Gary
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Holy Week is the most important week in Catholicism. This week follows the final eight days of Jesus' life – from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
On Palm Sunday, Catholics recount Jesus’s triumphant arrival into the city of Jerusalem. The parishes of Gary have traditionally gathered for a procession and will again this Easter season, starting at Ss. Monica and Luke at 10:30 a.m. on April 13. The priests of the Order of Friars Minor will lead the walk to the Cathedral of the Holy Angels, where Mass will be held.
A few days later, on Thursday, April 17, Bishop McClory will preside at the diocese’s Chrism Mass starting at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Angels.
Administrative Assistant Eileen Wayte feels the Chrism Mass is one of the most beautiful Eucharistic celebrations held at the cathedral. She referenced that the church is always full to capacity and pointed out that it’s the time when the holy oils are blessed for the coming year with the bishop, other clergy and lay people all participating in the process of the blessing of the oils.
“This Mass truly unites all of our parishes and strengthens parish ties with the diocese under the guidance of our bishop,” she said. “The holy oils blessed during the Chrism Mass are used in sacramental anointing and consecration to mark us as the people of God. I believe that the Mass serves as a reminder of the unity of the Church and the importance of the sacraments in our lives.”
The staff of the cathedral and Holy Angels parishioners prepare the building, making sure that the sacristy is properly stocked with the appropriate liturgical vessels and other supplies, and prepare the space for the distribution of the holy oils to parish priests.
Cathedral staff assist with hospitality at the Chrism Mass by distributing worship aids, assisting parishioners from throughout the diocese who have never or seldom visited the cathedral find their way to their seats, while also assisting clergy as they arrive and prepare for Mass.
Wayte said the Chrism Mass, as well as all other diocesan events at the cathedral, allows her and the staff an opportunity to see other diocesan employees from the Pastoral Center and connect with the seminarians, deacons, priests and the bishop.
“Personally, I get emotional strength and clarity when I pray in community and when the church is full of other Catholics and our clergy,” she said. “I am just about walking on water when I leave the church. To have so many folks there from throughout our entire diocese reenforces that we are all children of God together with one voice.”
That Holy Thursday evening, parishes around the diocese will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The bishop will join the congregation of St. Mary in Crown Point at 7 p.m. to recall the events of the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples.
“The significance of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday is profound in our faith,” said Deacon Bill Grimes, who serves the St. Mary parish. “It not only commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion, but it is also important for several additional reasons, including that it marks the institution of the Eucharist and it exemplifies Jesus' call to serve.”
During the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, several important elements take place. The first is the Mass itself as a remembrance of the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist.
The second key feature is the ritual of the washing of the feet, where the priest washes the feet of several members of the congregation. This act symbolizes Jesus' humility and His call to serve others.
The third key aspect is the fact that the altar is stripped bare after Mass, which symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by His disciples and the preparation for His Passion. Finally, also following the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to a place of repose, where it is kept for adoration. At that time, the faithful are invited to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice and His love for his people.
“At St. Mary, we are preparing for not only the Lord’s Supper but also all of Holy Week with the reopening of our church after it has been closed for the past year to complete the repair and replacement of the roof,” said Deacon Grimes. “With the completion of this project, we will be reopening on Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. We are extremely excited and completely grateful for all the hard work and patience that went into the successful completion of this construction project.”
Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and reflection for Christians, who often attend special church services and prayer vigils, marking the crucifixion of Jesus. At noon at The Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, the bishop will lead members of the diocese, as well as faithful from surrounding areas, through the Stations of the Cross.
Paul Anderson, general manager at the shrine, estimates that 8,000-10,000 people come through the doors of the shrine on Good Friday, and during the week, a total of between 25,000-30,000. When the bishop is walking the path and praying at the Stations, he approximated, there are 2,500-3,000 people along the path.
“To see the number of people on the path with the bishop on Good Friday makes me feel that there is hope for the world; it's just amazing!” Anderson said.
Anderson added that in preparation, he always makes sure there are enough employees and volunteers on duty in the store and in the parking lot that day, because everyone wants everything to go smoothly.
That evening, Bishop McClory will head to Porter County for Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion at 7 p.m. at St. Paul, Valparaiso, and a Mass in Spanish.
Norma Torres, office manager, described the Mass of the Lord’s Passion as a profound commemoration of Jesus Christ’s suffering and crucifixion for salvation. It is also a pivotal moment in the Triduum, marking the fulfillment of His words shared with His disciples at the Last Supper.
“It offers a deep connection to the central mystery of our faith – one that does not end on Good Friday but leads us toward the joy of Easter Sunday,” she said.
For Torres, the most important part of the service is the Veneration of the Cross – the moment when she can show reverence for the cross of Christ.
“It's the very means of my Savior’s sacrifice, while also deeply reflecting on the magnitude of God's love and the cost of my salvation,” she said. “In my personal faith journey, it reminds me that the crosses in my life draw me closer to the Father. No matter how sorrowful, difficult, or painful they may be, if carried with sacrificial love, they will be transformed and redeemed through God’s love.”
Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, noting the time when Christ lay in the tomb. It is a day of silence, waiting and expectation.
“The Church contemplates Christ’s descent to the dead, where He preached to the souls who had gone before Him, opening the gates of heaven. It is a day of hopeful anticipation for the Resurrection,” said Father Jacob McDaniel, chaplain of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso.
He explained that during the day, the Church observes a quiet stillness – there is no Mass, and the altar remains bare. Some churches may offer the Liturgy of the Hours or reflections on Christ’s Passion.
At night, the Easter Vigil – the most solemn liturgy of the year – takes place. Bishop McClory will preside at an 8 p.m. service at St. Teresa of Avila. This includes The Service of Light (The Paschal candle is lit from the Easter fire, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World), The Liturgy of the Word (several readings recount salvation history, from Creation to Christ’s Resurrection), The Baptismal Liturgy (Catechumens are baptized, and the congregation renews its baptismal promises) and The Liturgy of the Eucharist (The first Mass of Easter is celebrated with great joy).
“One of the most powerful moments for me is the lighting of the Paschal candle in the dark church, followed by the gradual spreading of light as everyone lights their own candles,” said Father McDaniel. “It’s a tangible symbol of Christ conquering the darkness of sin and death. The transition from the solemnity of Lent to the triumph of Easter is also deeply moving.”
Celebrating the Risen Christ, the bishop will return to the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary at 11 a.m. for Mass on Easter Sunday, April 20.
“Easter Sunday Mass has an atmosphere of joy as He has risen,” Wayte said. “The Holy Angels parish, while small, is very welcoming and helpful at our Masses and enjoys when visitors from other parishes come for Mass. They also enjoy Bishop McClory presiding and hearing his homilies.”
Caption: Amanda Alessi is immersed three times - in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - during the East Vigil Mass at St. John the Evangelist in 2024. (Lynda J. Hemmerling photo)
