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Easter

- The Liturgical Season of Easter
  
  In the Catholic Church, the Easter season, also known as Eastertide, is a 50-day period that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and culminates with Pentecost. It begins with Easter Sunday and extends for 50 days, concluding with Pentecost Sunday.
  
  It's a time of joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. We enter into the significance of this octave (and entire season) because it is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and the revelation of God's divine plan for the salvation of all humankind.
  
  Jesus defeated death and sin forever and restored the hope of salvation. The Easter season is a time for reflecting on the Paschal Mystery (death and resurrection of Jesus), the relevance of the Church, and the power of the Holy Spirit. So now - it's time to celebrate!
- Decorate for the Resurrection!
  
  The Easter season is the second-longest liturgical season. Only ordinary time is longer.
  
  Instead of focusing on bunnies and eggs, consider decorating your home with outward signs of faith and the joy of the Resurrection!
  
  You can build an altar inside your home, make stained glass crosses to put on your front door and window or even adjust the outdoor lights to purple!
  
  Just think: What would the world look like if we decorated our homes and yard for Easter with the fervor and energy that we put in decorating our homes for Christmas?
- A Guide for the 8 Days of Easter Read this article from the National Catholic Register
- We sing the Regina Caeli during the Season of Easter!
  
  Instead of praying the St. Michael prayer, the Regina Caeli will be sung at the end of Mass. Learn how to sing this hymn here!
Other Feasts During the Season of Easter
- Divine Mercy Sunday - April 27
  
  Jesus asked St. Faustina to share His Divine Mercy with the whole world.
  
  The best way to celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy is to spend an hour with Jesus in adoration. The Oratory of St. Mary Magdalene is open and Jesus is waiting for you!
  
  Embrace the Liturgical Color:
  Wear red and white in honor of the "blood and water, which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us."
  
  Set up an altar in your home:
  Place an image of the Divine Mercy in a prominent place in your home. Light a candle to honor the quietness of the day.
  
  Prayer and Reflection:
  Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with your family. Gather your friends to pray or SING the chaplet together at 3 p.m.
  
  Learn more how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
  
  Sing the Divine Mercy Chaplet
  
  Schedule a regular time to go to Confession. Invite a friend who has been away from the sacrament for a long time.
- Feast of the Ascension - May 29
  
  Forty days after Jesus’ Glorious Resurrection, Our Lord ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:6-11). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 665) says, “Christ’s Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain, whence he will come again (cf. Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men (cf. Col 3:3).”
  
  In 2025, the Feast of the Ascension is on Thursday, May 29, but the Solemnity is celebrated on Sunday, June 1st.
  
  Discover more information about the Ascension here.
- How to Celebrate the Ascension
  
  Before rising to Heaven, Jesus walked with His disciples to the Mount of Olives before giving them the Great Commission:
  
  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
  
  Take your celebrate of the Ascension outside!
  
  Embrace the Liturgical Color:
  The color for Ascension Day is typically white, symbolizing joy and glory.
  
  Engage with Family & Friends:
  Create a liturgical procession with family and friends, imitating Christ's journey to the Mount of Olives.
  Go on a hike, particularly one with hills to imagine the disciples' journey. Prepare a picnic when you arrive at the top.
  During your time outside, prepare some praise and worship songs that you can sing along the way. Bring some portable instruments to assist in making a joyful noise to the Lord!
  
  Prayer and Reflection:
  Spend time outdoors in God's creation and ponder the meaning of Christ's ascent to Heaven and His promise to return.
  Read some Scripture passages about the Acts of the Apostles after they witnessed Jesus Ascension into Heaven. Journal or share about which Apostle's story impacts you the most.
  Consider bringing holy water to bless the boundaries of your house and property.
  
  Foods of Ascension:
  In some areas, it is a tradition to eat poultry, like pheasants or partridges, (birds who fly up from their nests on the ground) on Ascension Day, referencing Christ's ascension to heaven.
  As part of your meals for the day, you might want to incorporate olives for the Mount of Olives or produce that was grown locally in celebration of the bounty of the fields and God's creation.
The Feast of Pentecost - June 8
- The Birthday of Our Church
  
  On the Feast of Pentecost, Christians commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, gathered around the Mother of the Lord (Acts chapter 2).
  
  The feast is celebrated on the 50th and final day of the Easter season.
- How to Celebrate Pentecost
  
  Red is the liturgical color for Pentecost, symbolizing the tongues of fire that descended upon the Apostles. You can consider wearing red, decorating your home, engaging in family prayer or other activities that focus on the Holy Spirit. You may even want to host a bonfire and bring friends over to celebrate with you!
  
  Here's a more detailed look at how to celebrate Pentecost:
  Embrace the Liturgical Color:
  Wear red clothing, decorate your home with red items, and use red accents on your dining table.
  Red rose petals can be scattered on tables symbolizing the tongues of fire.
  
  Engage with Family & Friends:
  Read the story of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-11 together and discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
  Make a plan to participate in St. Vincent's Called & Gifted program if you haven't already. If you have, learn more about the gifts that you have been given from the Holy Spirit.
  Create some artwork with a dove and tongues of flame.
  Bake a red velvet cake, or consider a birthday cake for the birthdate of our Church
  Host a bonfire outside while you read the story of Pentecost.
  
  Prayer and Reflection:
  Pray the Chaplet of the Holy Spirit or other prayers that focus on the Holy Spirit's work.
  Mediate on the Holy Spirit's presence in Jesus' life and the Church.
  Reflect and journal on the different ways the Holy Spirit manifests in your life and the lives of others.
  
  Connect with others:
  Celebrate the Holy Spirit's power in your life and the lives of your family members. Share a testimony of the Holy Spirit in your own life.
  Write a note to someone else expressing gratitude for how their life has blessed you.