Friday, April 3rd, 3:00 PM in St. Raphael Church

On this day, Christians ritually recall the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus. Mass is not celebrated on this day, however, Holy Communion (reserved in the tabernacle on the altar of repose from the previous evening) is distributed at the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.  The celebration traditionally occurs at 3 pm and consists of three parts: liturgy of the Word, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion.
 
The first part, the Liturgy of the Word, consists of the reading or chanting of Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, and the Passion account from the Gospel of John.  The second part of the Good Friday liturgy is the Veneration of the Cross: a cross is solemnly displayed to the congregation and then venerated by them, individually if possible.  The third and last part is Holy Communion.  The Eucharist, consecrated at the Mass of Holy Thursday, is distributed at this service.  At the conclusion, the priest and people depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare.