April 20 - 22 - HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL :

APRIL 20 : MASS OF CHRISM - A large number of Catholics from the three parishes in Kuwait attended the concelebrated Chrism Mass at 6:30 a.m. This year the Chrism Mass was concelebrated by sixteen priests which included visiting priests as well as our own priests. In a special ceremony during the Mass all the priests renewed their priestly vows after which, the Bishop, the Most Rev. Francis Micallef carried out the Blessing of the three Holy Oils which will be used in the performance of certain ecclesiastical functions during the year - during the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism; the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders; and in the Anointing of the Sick.

Chrism which is a mixture of oil of olives and balsam - has been introduced into the functions of the church liturgy, owing to its symbolical significance. Olive-oil, being rich and abiding, is fitted to represent the outpouring of sacramental grace, while balsam, which gives forth a fragrant odour, typifies the innate sweetness of Christian virtue. Thus, anointing with chrism aptly signifies that fullness of grace and spiritual strength by which we are enabled to resist the contagion of sin and produce the sweet flowers of virtue.

The blessing of each oil by the Bishop also explains the significance of the particular oil.

The Oil of the Sick :
"May the sick who are anointed with this oil experience the compassion of Christ and His saving love in body, mind, and soul."
The Oil of the Catechumens :
"Through anointing with this oil may our catechumens who are preparing to receive the saving waters of baptism be strengthened by Christ to resist the power of Satan and reject evil in all its forms."
The Holy Chrism :
"Through anointing with this perfumed chrism may children and adults who are baptised and confirmed, and presbyters who are ordained, experience the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit."

THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM :

The Paschal Triduum is the Church's annual celebration of the Lord's Death and Resurrection. It begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, and ends with solemn evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

APRIL 20 : MAUNDY THURSDAY

The feast of Maundy (or Holy) Thursday solemnly commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Priesthood, and is the oldest of the observances peculiar to Holy Week.

Of special significance during the Mass, is the rite of 'Washing of the Feet'. The early Christian Church introduced the custom to imitate the humility and selfless love of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper (John 13:1-15), the night before his Crucifixion. Thus, its re-enactment on Holy Thursday, is a good occasion to recall that the Eucharist we celebrate is a call to service as is the washing of the feet. As the Lord gives his body and blood for us, we are to give our lives in service to him and to one another.

At the Cathedral, after the Mass, the Most Holy Sacrament was carried in solemn procession, to the altar of Repose where adoration at the repository continued till the late hours of the evening.

APRIL 21 : GOOD FRIDAY

The Friday in Holy Week is the Day on which the Church keeps the anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

There is, perhaps, no office in the whole liturgy so dramatic as the ceremonial of Good Friday. Really speaking, there is no celebration of the Mass on this day. The omission of the Mass proper marks in the mind of the Church the deep sorrow with which she keeps the anniversary of the Sacrifice of Calvary. Good Friday is a feast of grief. A day of fast and penance, red vestments signifying the Blood of Jesus, a bare altar, the slow and solemn reading of the sufferings of Christ (the Passion according to St. John), prayer intentions (intercessions) for all those for whom He died, and finally the unveiling and reverencing of the Crucifix - first, by the clergy, the altar servers and the other church ministers and at the end of the service by the faithful.

In the vicariate, it is the practice not to distribute Holy Communion to all present. Rather, the congregation is invited by the main celebrant, to make a spiritual communion when the members of the clergy receive the Sacred Host.

APRIL 22 : THE EASTER VIGIL

The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope, and through baptism and confirmation, we are inserted into the paschal mystery of Christ, dying, buried, and raised with him; and with him, we shall also reign. The night before Easter Sunday is one of vigil for the Lord' (Exodus 12 :42). The Vigil celebrated during it commemorates that holy night when the Lord rose from the dead. It is regarded as the 'mother of all holy vigils' (St. Augustine); for in that night, the Church keeps vigil, waiting for the resurrection of the Lord, and celebrates the sacraments of Christian initiation.

THE PASCHAL CANDLE

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The Paschal Candle is a representation of the Light of Christ come into the world. This Candle is traditionally the first to be lit from the newly blessed fire ... It is used at Baptisms to light the Candles given to those who are baptised, to represent the Light of Christ. The Candle has inscribed on it, the Alpha and the Omega symbols, and the year, as well as five grains of incense which signify the wounds of Christ.

The first part of the Vigil at the Cathedral, consisted of symbolic acts. Having blessed the new fire at the main entrance and the Paschal candle being lit, the Faithful entered into the church in a procession led by the light of the Paschal candle. (Just as the children of Israel were guided at night by a pillar of fire, so similarly Christians follow the risen Christ.) The deacon carried the lighted candle and in a loud voice exclaimed three times before reaching the altar, "CHRIST, OUR LIGHT". On reaching the altar, the candle and the Holy Book were incensed and then blessed by the Bishop. The deacon made the Easter proclamation to which the choir responded in joyful note.

The readings from Sacred Scripture constituted the second part of the Vigil. The two readings taken from Genesis 1:1-2:2 (The creation story) and from Exodus 14:15-15:1 are accounts of the outstanding deeds in the history of salvation.

The third part of the Vigil was the renewal of baptismal promises made by all, introduced by some words on the part of the celebrating priest, after which, the priest sprinkled the people with water - thus recalling to them the baptism they have received.

The celebration of the Eucharist that formed the fourth part of the Vigil and marked its high point, is in the fullest sense the Easter Sacrament, that is to say, the Commemoration of the Sacrifice of the Cross and the Presence of the Risen Christ and the Completion of Christian Initiation.

-- By J. Mascarenhas; Photographs by Rewon Gomes

April 27 - HOLY REDEEMER CHAPEL :
18th Anniversary Celebrations of the God's Love Community.

<April 19, 18, 17 - HOLY REDEEMER CHAPEL :
Annual Lenten Retreat conducted by Fr. Santosh Menezes.

April 19 - HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL :
Jubilee Lenten Presentation by the Filipino Catholic Community Council in Kuwait.

April 16 - HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL :
Palm Sunday

April 5 - HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL :
Couples For Christ (Kuwait Chapter) -
Baptism of The Holy Spirit & Commissioning Service (CLP)