Holy Week in Armagh Parish

Holy Week is a week to be savoured and all of life is reflected in the people and the events of this last week in the life of Jesus: the joy of Palm Sunday, the leave-taking of Holy Thursday, the private Gethsemanes of anguish and fear; moments of Judas betrayals; Peters denials; the humiliations before Pilate and Herod; the abandonment of Good Friday; the clamour of the crowd demanding execution. And finally, there is the resignation and letting go: “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.”

The pattern and the events of Holy Week have been repeated so often in the course of world history and in the experiences of our own lives. This special week gives all of us an opportunity to come in contact with the power of the Passion and to be transformed from competitiveness to compassion, from fickleness to fidelity, from anxiety about the future to awe about the present, with its security of God’s unconditional love.

At Three O’Clock

At three o’clock each afternoon, I say a special prayer,

That God will keep my dear ones in his ever loving care.

Because at three o’clock he died, one Friday long ago.

And there were those who did not weep and those who did not know.

I pray for relatives and friends who now have passed away,

And all who are silent echoes of a distant yesterday.

It may be Sunday, Monday, or the last day of the week,

As I petition God to give the favour that I seek.

But every day at three o’clock I say that special prayer,

That he will keep my dear ones in his ever loving care.

Confessions/Reconciliation for Easter

Holy Week Penance Service in St Malachy’s Church on Monday 3 April at 7.30pm. Several priests will be available to hear Confessions.

St Malachy’s Church: Saturday 1 April from 12noon – 2pm

St Patrick’s Cathedral: Monday 3 – Wednesday 5 April after 10am Mass

Masses & Services during Holy Week

Palm Sunday

Palms will be blessed at all Masses. (Normal Sunday Mass Times)

Chrism Mass

The Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday 5 April at 7pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral. All are welcome. This Mass which the Archbishop celebrates with his priests in the presence of the people and at which he blesses the Holy Oils, manifests the communion of the priests and people with their bishop.

Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper

St Patrick’s Cathedral at 7:30pm

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tullysaran at 7:30pm

St. Colmcille’s Church, Knockaconey at 7:30pm

Altars of Repose close at 10pm with Night Prayer

Good Friday

The Lord’s Passion

St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Malachy’s Church & Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tullysaran at 3pm

Church of St. Colmcille’s, Knockaconey at 7:30pm

Stations of the Cross

St Malachy’s Church & Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tullysaran at 7:30pm

Prayer around the Cross

St Malachy’s Church at 9pm

Holy Saturday

St Patrick’s Cathedral

10am Morning Prayer

9pm Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday

St Malachy’s Church at 8am & 9.30am

St Patrick’s Cathedral at 11am & 12.30pm

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tullysaran at 10am

St. Colmcille’s Church, Knockaconey at 10am

Please note NO 5.30pm Mass on Easter Sunday.

Good Friday: Outdoor Way of the Cross

The starting point will be the grounds of the Sacred Heart Convent, Convent Rd at 11am and we will proceed from there through the streets of Armagh to the Calvary Grotto in the grounds of St Malachy’s Church. There will be brief reflections, prayers and hymns along the way to commemorate each of the Stations of the Cross.

The Good Friday collection will help support Christians living in the Holy Land.

Trocaire Boxes should be returned to any of the Churches in the parish during the Easter Triduum. It would be appreciated if loose coins could be changed into notes.

Easter Week (Monday 10 – Saturday 15 April)

Mass Monday – Saturday at 10am in St Patrick’s Cathedral and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 7.30pm in St Malachy’s Church. There will be a Prayer Service on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in St Malachy’s at 7.30pm. Please note there will be NO early morning Mass during Easter Week. There will be NO Confessions in St Malachy’s Church on Saturday 15th.

The Priests of the Parish wish you and your families a very happy and blessed Easter. May the glory and brightness of Easter fill your hearts with hope and may the Risen Lord surprise you with joy!