Liturgical Calendar
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New this Lent, each of our church narthexes features a poster-sized monthly Liturgical Calendar with corresponding Solemnities, Saints, and Novenas.
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Holy Week Devotions
Seven Churches Visitation
Divine Grace Parish families are invited to take part in a beautiful Catholic tradition- visiting seven churches following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 7:00 pm. The visitation recalls the final seven places Jesus traveled to between his arrest and death.
The tradition is believed to started with Saint Philip Neri who organized pilgrimages to churches around Rome in the 16th century. Today in modern Italy, Catholics visit the seven major basilicas in Rome to seek Christ and spend time with Him.
On Holy Thursday evening at Divine Grace Parish, all three of our churches will remain open for Adoration until 11:00 pm. Below is a church listing and link to a map route that includes all three of our churches. Total travel time to the seven churches is under two hours.
Area Churches Participating: For map, visit https://bit.ly/44hbjeW
-St. Ferdinand (2535 Rochester Rd. Cranberry Twp 16066)- open until 11 pm
-St. Gregory (2 West Beaver St. Zelienople 16063)- until 11 pm
-Holy Redeemer (415 Fourth St. Ellwood City 16117)- until 11 pm
-Ss. Peter & Paul (200 3rd St. Beaver 15009)- until 11 pm
-Ss. John & Paul (2586 Wexford Bayne Rd. Sewickley 15143) – until midnight
-St. Alphonsus (221 Church Rd. Wexford 15090)- until midnight
-St. Killian (7076 Franklin Rd. Cranberry Twp 16066)- until 11 pm
On Good Friday, recitation of Chaplet and beginning of the Divine Mercy Novena will be held following Good Friday services.Paschal Triduum Fast – Beginning the evening of Holy Thursday and continuing through Holy Saturday, we commemorate Our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and penance to unite with Christ’s suffering and to prepare for the joy of His rising to new life.Good Friday is a day of both fasting and abstinence. Those aged 18-59 are obliged to fast, eating one full meal and two smaller meals that when combined would not equal a full meal. Optional fasting is encouraged through the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening.Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Good Friday.Blessing of Easter Baskets – In a tradition dating back to the early 12th century in Poland, families fill their Easter Baskets on Holy Saturday morning with symbolic foods and items. The baskets are brought to church to be blessed. The service will take place at noon on Holy Saturday, April 19, in all three churches of Divine Grace Parish.Families take special pride in preparing a decorative basket, with children carrying it into church and placing it before the altar.The baskets often contain smoked meats, sausage, butter in the shape of a lamb, cheese, bread, sale, and decorated pysanky eggs. A white candle symbolizing Jesus, is placed among the food so it can be lit during the blessing.The blessed food is eaten after Mass on Easter Sunday.
Five Holy Wounds of Jesus
Our Lord received these wounds during His crucifixion – being nailed to the Cross, and the wound in his side from the spear thrust.
The Four Nail Holes – one in each of His hands, and one in each of His feet
The Spear Wound – in His side, inflicted by a Roman soldier
These wounds are often a focus of prayer and meditation during Lent and the Passion of Christ.
Seven Last Words of Jesus- Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34)
- Today you will be with me in Paradise. (Luke 23:43)
- Woman, behold your son! (John 19:26)
- My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46)
- I thirst. (John 19:28)
- It is finished. (John 19:30)
- Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit. (Luke 23:46)