Lent / Holy Week / Easter Triduum

“The purpose of Lent is not to force on us a few formal obligations, but to ‘soften’ our heart so that it may open itself to the realities of the spirit, to experience the hidden ‘ thirst’ for communion with God.”
- Pope Saint John Paul II


Friday Stations of the Cross

Join us Fridays during Lent for Stations of the Cross and a Meatless meal.


There will be two separate times for Stations:

  • 6:00pm in English
  • 7:30pm in Spanish


The meal will be held between the two stations times.


  • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 - Hosted by  St. Francis Men’s Club
  • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 - Hosted by Welcome Committee
  • FRIDAY, MARCH 6 - Hosted by Women of Faith
  • FRIDAY, MARCH 13 - Hosted by Choir
  • FRIDAY, MARCH 20 - Hosted by Confirmation & Youth Ministry
  • FRIDAY, MARCH 27 - Hosted by Hispanic Ministry

  • Where are the Stations of The Cross?

    Join us on the Lyttleton Street side for Stations of the Cross. Overflow seating is along Pine Street.  

  • What happens during the Stations? What prayers do we use?

    We use The Way of the Cross prayer book.  Pick up a copy on the Lyttleton Street side in the back as you walk in the Church.


    Father or Deacon will be praying from the book.  Responses are listed and it even tells you when to kneel!  Father or Deacon will follow the stations along the wall while everyone else can remain in their pews.  If you would like to turn around in your pew to face them as they walk, you may choose to do that.

  • Where is the meal?

    Following the English Stations of the Cross in the Church and prior to Spanish Stations of the Cross, we will proceed to St. Mary's Hall for a meatless meal sponsored by our various ministries at our church.  We will meet in St. Mary's Hall at 6:45 PM.

  • Is it free?

    Yes!  Walking through Jesus' Passion is a way we can remember the sacrifice Our Lord made for our sake.  Join us for this and the meal for our community.  Our ministries are very generious to donate food to feed us during Lent and we appreciate it!  If you would like to donate to our ministries to assist with the cost of the meal, they would certainly welcome it.

  • Why is the meal meatless?

    The Magisterium, Sacred Tradition, and Holy Scripture all indicate that it is most fitting that we fast and abstain in order to satisfy—if only in part—the debt we owe to Jesus Christ. Our payment is an act of justice, but doing penance of our own free will is an act of love in return. In either case, in order to assist the faithful in their efforts to grow closer to our Savior and reach the garden of eternal Paradise, The Holy Catholic Church has appointed the Fridays of Lent to be days of fast and abstinence. 


    Outside of Lent, Fridays are days designated for abstinence alone. (The Church never did away with sacrifices on Fridays, which many Catholics misunderstand.)


    By giving up the consumption of flesh-meat, we offer up a worthy atonement—not only in commemoration of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, but also so that we may (out of reverence) mirror his offering: we give up flesh for Him every Friday because He gave up His Flesh for us on Good Friday. 


    Thus, during the season of Lent, when we call to mind the sufferings of Our Lord more closely, it is only natural that we place more emphasis on this practice of reparation.


    The following link will give you the full information on why Catholics do this tradition on Fridays, not only during Lent but also all year around! 

    The Good Catholic

Holy Week

Join us during Holy Week as we remember the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus!


  • Palm Sunday, March 29th - 9:30AM, 12:00PM (Spanish)

    Masses are:

    • 9:30AM in English
    • 12:00PM in Spanish

  • Holy Monday, March 30th - 12PM Mass

    Mass is 12:00PM

  • Holy Tuesday, March 31st - No Mass!

    There will be no Mass at OLPH on Tuesday.  


    All are invited to attend the 11:00am Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.120 Broad St.Charleston, SC 29401

  • Spy Wednesday, April 1st - 8AM

    Holy Wednesday, also called Spy Wednesday, is a Christian day that commemorates the Bargain of Judas and the Parable of the Two Debtors. Join us for Mass at 8:00AM.

  • Maudy Thursday, April 2nd - 7PM (Bilingual)

    Join us on Maudy Thursday or Holy Thursday to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper, with washing of feet, and a Eucharistic procession to St. Mary's Hall for Adoration into the night.  Mass will begin at 7:00PM and be bilingual.  This will be the last night Our Lord Jesus is on earth with us until His glorious Resurrection.

    • Mass of the Last Supper: The faithful attend a special Mass that often includes the washing of feet, recalling Christ’s service.
    • Eucharistic Adoration: Many participate in extended adoration, reflecting on the mystery of the Eucharist and Christ’s passion. This is to honor Jesus Christ as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemine and implored Peter, John and James to keep watch with Him for one hour: "And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?" Matthew 26:40

  • Good Friday, April 3rd - 12PM Stations, 7PM Veneration

    There will be no Mass held today as Our Lord goes through His passion and death.  


    • 12:00PM - Stations of the Cross as we rememeber Our Lord's passion and death at the hour He was on the cross.
    • 7:00PM - Veneration of the Cross is a solemn moment in the Good Friday liturgy where Catholics reflect on Christ’s death. It is not an act of worship directed at the physical cross itself but a recognition of its role in salvation.

  • Holy Saturday, April 4th - Blessing of Easter Baskets

    Join us Holy Saturday for the Blessing of Easter Baskets.  See the link for more on this tradition!

    Tradition

  • Easter Vigil, April 4th- 8:15PM

    The Roman Catholic Church remind us that this "mother of all vigils" is the "greatest and most noble of all solemnities" and "there is to be only one celebration in each church" (Missale Romanum, "Rubrics for the Easter Vigil" (EV), no. 2). On this holy night, the Church keeps watch, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting His return in glory. It is the turning point of the Triduum, the Passover of the new covenant, which marks Christ's passage from death to life. Therefore, the Easter Vigil does not correspond to the usual Saturday evening Mass and its character is unique in the cycle of the liturgical year.


    Join us as we welcome all OCIA candidates and catechumans into the Church this evening and our first celebration of Easter and Jesus Christ's glorious Resurrection!  


    This Mass will begin after sundown at 8:15PM and expect it to go a few hours.  


    See the below link to the USCCB website for more details on this unique Liturgy.

  • Easter Sunday, April 5th - 8:30AM, 10:30AM, 12:30PM

    The Masses will be held at 

    • 8:30AM 
    • 10:30AM - Family Mass
    • 12:30PM - Spanish

    Following the 10:30AM Easter Family Mass, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for all the children!  Do not start until instructed on the rules - little children and bigger children will be in separate sections. 

Hallow Pray40 Lent Challenge

See the Pray40 Prayer Journal to help you walk through the Hallow Pray40 challenge!  New to Hallow?  No problem!  Check out our communications tab for more information on how to join!