Spiritual Renewal 2020

HOLY WEEK 2020

All is grace!

This week, as everywhere in the world, as everywhere in our Congregation, we experienced something strong and very special.

Palm Sunday opened the door to our celebrations, with a procession from our garden to the chapel that commemorated Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Our listening to the meditated reading of the Passion of Jesus prepared us to live each day of this unique week with fervor.

The first three days were days of retreat for the whole “casa”. Mother Maria dos Anjos, in her conferences, invited us to live this privileged time with our eyes fixed on Jesus, to experience and live the sentiments of Jesus Christ and to enter, as Pope Francis asked us, into the creativity of love in order to move forward. We meditated on the texts of the daily liturgy in prayer and silence and we were invited to discern what we wanted to offer to Jesus today and every day of our lives. During this time we prayed for one another, for the Congregation and especially for our world suffering from this pandemic.

THE EASTER TRIDUUM

Thanks to the presence of Father Ska among us, we had the grace of living the Easter Triduum with all of its liturgical celebrations.

On Holy Thursday we celebrated the Seder meal which reminds us of the liberation of the Jewish people from Egypt, a liberation obtained through suffering and plagues as we are experiencing it these days. Together we blessed our God, Master of all things, whose goodness sustains the world. In the evening, we celebrated the Eucharist which was followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. With faith we accompanied Jesus in prayer and silence.

Good Friday was lived in union with Christ “who became obedient unto death, and death on a cross.” In the evening, after the celebration of the veneration of the cross, we prayed the Way of the Cross with Pope Francis via television.

On Holy Saturday morning we lived the Stations of Mary meditating on Mary’s seven sorrows. In her company we experienced the absence of the Beloved, asleep in death and, with her, we lived the day in hopeful expectation. Saturday evening we had the joy of celebrating the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, the mystery of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our liturgical celebration was followed by a gathering where singing and dancing expressed our Easter joy.

Easter Sunday, day of celebration and joy! Our Lord has risen from the grave! Death, where is your victory? After the celebration of the Eucharist the joy of Easter continued with a festive meal and community recreation. A special Easter celebration this year 2020… not like all the others!