Bishop Checchio to preside at Holy Week and Easter Services throughout the Diocese of Metuchen

METUCHEN – The Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA, Bishop of Metuchen, will preside at Holy Week and Easter liturgies and services at the following locations. All are welcome and encouraged to participate, but due to limited seating capacity and to allow for proper distancing, congregants may be required to register with the parish in advance to attend in-person. The links for those liturgies and services that will be livestreamed are included below. For more information about Holy Week in the Diocese of Metuchen, visit: www.diometuchen.org/holyweek. 
 
Palm Sunday Vigil Mass
Saturday, March 27
5:15 p.m. – St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, 500 Route 22, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Livestream: https://stbernardbridgewater.org/ 
 
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord 
Sunday, March 28
11:30 a.m. – Church of the Sacred Heart, 149 South Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Livestream: https://www.churchofthesacredheart.net/mass-videos/ 

• On this day, Catholics celebrate the joyous entrance of Christ into the City of Jerusalem and, soon after, we will celebrate His crucifixion and remember He will rise on Easter Day.
• This year, palms may be blessed privately or the week prior and made available to the faithful before or after Mass.

Chrism Mass 
Tuesday, March 30
11 a.m. – Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 32 Elm Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840
Livestream: https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ 

• At this Mass, priests from across the four-county diocese will gather in unity with the bishop and make their Renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service. The bishop will bless the oils to be used throughout the coming year for Sacraments, our encounters with Christ, including: blessing of the sick, preparation for those who will receive baptism, confirmation and orders of the priesthood, as well as the dedication of sacred altars. 
• Regrettably, because of current restrictions very few places will be available, so the faithful are asked to participate in the Mass by way of the available livestream.

Mass of the Lord's Supper
Thursday, April 1
7:30 p.m. – Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 32 Elm Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840
Livestream: https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ 

• This Mass commemorates the institution of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders by Jesus at the Last Supper. It is the beginning of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter celebrations). 
• Unlike most years, the traditional washing of the feet will not take place this year and, if it can be done safely, the faithful may remain to continue adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) 
Friday, April 2
Noon – St. Joseph Parish, 55 High Street, Carteret, NJ 07008

• On this afternoon, the faithful will gather outside to meditate and contemplate the Way of the Cross, which Jesus made on the way to Calvary, as they walk through the streets of Carteret.

Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord
Friday, April 2
3 p.m. – Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 32 Elm Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840
Livestream: https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ 

• On Good Friday, we remember the Passion of the Lord and we adore His Holy Cross. Due to the current conditions, the faithful will not adore the Cross with a kiss this year, but may adore the Cross with a genuflection or a bow from a distance.

Blessing of the Easter Food
Saturday, April 3
Noon – St. Mary of Czestochowa, 201 Vosseller Ave., Bound Brook, NJ 08805

• A longstanding Polish tradition is to bring baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. When the faithful eat the blessed food on Easter Sunday, they recall that Christ is the source of their true nourishment. 

Easter Vigil 
Saturday, April 3
8 p.m. – Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 32 Elm Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840
Livestream: https://www.stfranciscathedral.org/ 

• The Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday, is the highpoint of the Easter Triduum. The celebration begins in darkness and steadily moves into the light of the Resurrection, when the paschal candle is lit to illumine the night so that all may hear the Easter proclamation and listen to the word of God proclaimed in the Scriptures.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Sunday, April 4
10 a.m. – Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish, 600 Harris Ave., Middlesex, NJ 08846
Livestream: https://olmv.net/live 

• Easter, the greatest day of joy in our Christian year, commemorates the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed!
• The Easter season lasts 50 days, through the Solemnity of the Pentecost.