Easter Season

What is the Easter Season?

The Easter season is the fulfillment of our Catholic faith and the foundation of our salvation. It is a time during which we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Easter season lasts for 50 days beginning with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday when those who have been prepared come into full communion with the Church through the sacraments of initiation. Easter Sunday is the greatest solemnity in the liturgical calendar. It is the day we proclaim the glorious resurrection of Jesus and His triumph over sin. On the Feast of the Ascension we celebrate the entry of Jesus’ humanity into Divine glory in God’s heavenly Kingdom. The Easter season concludes with the celebration of Pentecost when we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the birth of the Church.

We transition from the penitential season of Lent to Easter during Holy Week. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday when the Church celebrates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem in the days before his Passion. The week culminates with the Triduum, the three holiest days of the year ? Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

The Easter season is a time of newness, rebirth and renewal. After the austerity and barrenness of Lent, the Church literally and figuratively sings a new song as the Gloria and the Alleluia return to the liturgy. We shout with joy, “Christ is risen! This is the day the Lord has made!” The liturgical color for the Easter season is white, symbolizing purity and joy. Red is used on Pentecost Sunday, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit.

At St. Laurence

We see the Easter season as a time of great joy and celebration! We honor the Triduum with extraordinary reverence, solemnity and beauty. We welcome new members into the Church and reach out to inactive Catholics and visitors. We proclaim the joy of the Lord’s victory over sin and death and marvel in the new life He has given to us. Having been touched by so great a love, we allow ourselves to be transformed. Because we cannot contain the love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves “on fire for Christ” and long to reach out in stewardship and service.

We encourage ministries to

We encourage parishioners to