Question of the Week: Holy Week, 2016

In his Sunday homily, our deacon urged everyone to attend as many of the Triduum liturgies as possible to commemorate the events that mark Jesus' Passion, death and resurrection.

The first Good Friday liturgy I remember took place when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I went to church with two of my great-aunts. I can remember sitting in an unfamiliar auditorium on folding chairs, because the church was too small to accommodate the Good Friday crowd.

"Let us stand..." the priest would intone. Then, after some prayers, "let us kneel..."

We venerated the cross. I wasn't sure what to do, but my great-aunts led the way. We received Communion, but I remember noticing that the priest did not pray most of the prayers I remembered from Sunday Masses.

My parish hosts a homemade-soup dinner after the Good Friday liturgy. Simple meatless soups and bread are served. It is a solemn day but it's good to get together with other families from the parish, before the family celebrations of Easter begin.