Holy Week services set at St. Columba

Staff report

youngstown

About 1,000 people representing the 112 parishes and two missions of the six-county Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will demonstrate the unity of the diocesan church when they gather at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., for the traditional Mass of Holy Chrism on Holy Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

The Most Rev. George V. Murry, bishop of Youngstown, will be the principal celebrant. Priests concelebrating in the sanctuary will include diocesan consultors and deans.

Each parish is invited to bring a banner depicting that parish, to be carried in procession at the opening of the celebration, and which will stand along the walls in colorful witness during the Mass. An important aspect of the Chrism Mass focuses on the annual renewal of the diocesan and religious priests in their commitment to priestly service.

A focus of the Holy Thursday service will be the consecration of the Sacred Chrism and blessing of the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. At the close of Mass, each pastor will receive Sacred Chrism and the other Holy Oils for use in his parish.

The Ecumenical Television Network (ETC) will air the Chrism Mass at 8 p.m. Holy Thursday and at 9 a.m. Good Friday.

Also on Holy Thursday, an evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 6 p.m. with the Rev. John E. Keehner, cathedral rector, as principal celebrant and the Rev. Edward Brienz, cathedral vice-rector, concelebrate. After Mass, the cathedral will remain open until 9 p.m. for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Catholics are welcome for personal veneration. Security will be provided.

On Good Friday, Bishop Murry will celebrate the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m. During this service, the annual collection for the Holy Land, which helps preserve the holy places of Christ’s homeland and helps alleviate suffering of the poor of every faith in the Holy Land, will take place.

On Holy Saturday, the Easter vigil will be celebrated at 8 p.m. by Bishop Murry and Fathers Keehner and Brienz.

Easter Sunday Masses will be at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with the Cathedral Choir singing at the later service.

The Sacrament of Penance will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. A communal penance service will be at 7 p.m. Monday.