He is Risen | Holy Week & The Season of Easter

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A resource shared by

Dio Comms Team

Published on

March 25, 2021

Easter 2020 was unlike any other for many around the world.
A year on, a lot has changed.

We are excited that, in the Diocese of Palmerston North, hopefully we will be able to celebrate Easter 2021 face to face in our local communities. At the same time we remain aware that this will still not be the reality of many others around the world. 

Recognising with gratitude how we are able to gather together, we can consider how we intend to celebrate Easter in 2021.

Thinking back a year ago, you have memories of how you celebrated in your home and what you missed most about not being able to celebrate Easter as you usually would. 

Can you continue any new or significant ways you celebrated in 2020 in your home this year, despite the different context? 

What did you miss most about being able to gather in community to celebrate Easter last year? Will that change how you approach this year?

How could you enter into Holy Week in 2021 with renewed enthusiasm?

Can you make space to be especially conscious of what you are grateful for during this time?

Holy Week is an incredibly important time in the year for us as Christians. In light of this, you might want to brush up on the specifics of Holy Week and the significance of each day. Check out a great three minute summary from Busted Halo on YouTube by clicking here.

Last year, when we were unable to celebrate the Triduum together in our churches and as large communities face to face, the diocese suggested various ways you could celebrate in your homes. We think many of these suggestions are still great ways to consider praying and celebrating this season.

You may like to download a summary of these suggestions here. 

Holy Thursday

Marks the beginning of Jesus’ passion and the way to Calvary.

  • Consider cooking a meal to acknowledge the Passover.

  • Make some unleavened bread. There are lots of simple recipes online for this.

  • If it was possible in your household, you might like to wash one another’s feet. You’ll need a basin, pitcher and towels.

As you wash each person’s feet you may like to repeat this traditional antiphon:“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:34

Good Friday

We enter the solemn time of Jesus’ passion. We made his abuse at the hands of the Romans, the abandonment by his disciples, his labored journey to Calvary and his death on the Cross.

  • Pray the Stations of the Cross. Join your local parish or consider using this digital recorded version from Pray as you Go here.

  • Create a cross. If you have a garden, you might be able to find some fallen branches to make into a cross. Place this in a central place in your house or garden.

  • Fasting. This is usually from food but you may also like to encourage your family to fast from other things such as TV, internet, music or movies. If you are at home with your family, maybe set aside an hour of quiet time together.

  • Make your prayer space empty today.

Holy Saturday

We are at the tomb, in the quiet of waiting. In our homes we are getting ready for Easter.

  • Spend the day preparing for Easter Sunday. Take time to prepare food you love, that reflects the traditions you cherish, and that give you joy. If you have children you might like to make some Resurrection cookies.

  • You might like to make your own Paschal Candle for your home, or choose a candle that you will light specially on Easter Sunday.

  • Make your prayer focus simple, include a cross without a corpus, a white cloth to remind us of Jesus’ burial shroud. Don’t include a candle until Easter Sunday.

  • Practice gratitude.

Easter Sunday

Christ is risen! Alleluia! We are filled with hope today because Jesus’ resurrection shows us that nothing is impossible for God.

  • Get dressed up and wear something that makes you feel special.

  • Create a Alleluia banner and put it in your home. Better yet, put it on the outside of your home and share the good news with your neighbours. (Leave it up for the entire fifty days.)

  • Celebrate with a special Easter Meal.

  • Light your own Easter candle. If you can, find some flowers to also include in your prayer space.

Looking for Holy Week Mass Times?

Click here

Some music for the season

We’ve curated a Spotify playlist with a few songs that help us celebrate the Season fo Easter. Have a listen by clicking here or clicking on the images below.

Easter Sunday 2021

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