Join us on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

to experience the Tenebrae.

A modern adaptation of the fourth century monastic Holy Week liturgy commemorating the death and burial of the

Light of Lights, Jesus Christ.

What is a Tenebrae service?

The word “Tenebrae” comes from the Latin meaning “darkness” or “shadows.” This dramatic service dating back to the 4th century centers around the gradual extinguishing of fifteen candles upon a stand in the sanctuary called a Hearse, while a series of readings and psalms are sung or recited, gradually reducing the lighting throughout the service. The fifteenth candle is hidden beneath the altar, ending the service in total darkness. At the moment of darkness, a loud noise occurs symbolizing the death of Jesus and the earthquake that ensued (Matthew 27:51). Following the great noise, the candle, which had been hidden from view, is returned to the top of the Hearse, signifying the return of Christ to the world with the Resurrection, and all depart in silence.

The Tenebrae Service is meant to inspire and awaken a sense of awe and wonder at the great Mysteries contained within the upcoming Holy Week and Easter Liturgies! Join us Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

5 SPOTS LEFT!

For additional information and to register, visit the wetravel.com website.

Pope Francis declared 2025 the Holy Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The Jubilee Year will offer the faithful opportunities to participate in various jubilee events at the Vatican and in their own dioceses. We often speak of our earthly life as a pilgrimage. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6), so Christians are always called to be with Jesus “on the way,” journeying toward the Kingdom. More literally, a pilgrimage is an actual journey to visit holy places—not as a tourist, but as one seeking to grow in faith and become a better Christian. Join us in October for our Pilgrimage, and walk in the footsteps of St. Paul through Greece and Rome. Click here to learn more about the St. David the King Footsteps and Holy Door Pilgrimage.

Dear PREP Families,

A few changes have been made to the upcoming year that I would like to make known to you at this time. The biggest change is the increase in the total number of hours students will be in formation. The diocese is asking that all parishes have a minimum of 33 hours of instruction. In order to achieve this we have increased the number of classes to 22 for the academic year and also increased the length of the class period by 10 minutes; classes will be from 4:30-6:00 PM.

The other big change is that we are not requiring students and their families to attend Family Catechesis gatherings/events. We will still be offering some throughout the year, around particular liturgical seasons, for those families interested in going deeper in their faith and understanding of theological, sacramental, and liturgical traditions that have shaped the practice of our faith.

Confirmation class is also being returned to Wednesday evenings, but will continue to meet in the Youth Hall. Confirmation will be following the same schedule as the other PREP grades.

Lastly, we will be administering the National ACRE Test to grades 5-8 in the Fall of this coming year. This assessment is to aid us in evaluating the effectiveness of our curriculum and to identify any areas that may require a reworking of the content to help our youth understand the faith better. As many of you are aware many youth stop engaging in the faith or find themselves leaving the Apostolic Church in their 20s. This assessment will shed some light on areas we can be more attentive to help curb this outcome.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me or stop me when you see me around the parish campus. Summer Blessings!

Verso L’alto,

Fr. Jason M. Parzynski

Administrator