Easter Triduum Photos

The Photos from the Easter Triduum are up and you can view them HERE.
To view the full album, visit the Parish Facebook Page!

Easter Greetings

Rejoice! Rejoice! Jesus Christ is Risen today! Alleluia! Alleluia!

May the Risen Christ bring blessings and happiness to everyone!

Happy Easter from the Parish of St. Joseph/Mt. D'or

R.C.I.A. in St. Joseph

This year, the Parish of St. Joseph/Mt.D'or will welcome
Areefa Khan (Baptism)
Alicia-Ann Celestine (Baptism)
Sasha Lackraj (Reception) on Gloria Saturday night.

And on April 8th, St. Joseph R.C. Church will host Suburban Vicariate Confirmation for Adults with
Kristel Harricharan
Kyle Nunes
Tristana Charles
Ryszardo Jennings
Olivia Constentine
Krystle Ali
Vernon Boodhoo representing our parish.

Congratulations to you all and may God and his Holy Spirit bless your lives.

Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum begins today (Holy Thursday) and ends on Gloria Saturday to commemorate the Death & Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Holy Thursday:  The Last Supper where our Lord broke bread with his 12 apostles.

Good Friday : The Day our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins. Even though the day has a very        solemn mood, it is also a day of victory.

Easter Sunday: After three days, Our Lord Jesus Christ comes out the tomb to mark the Resurrection. Gloria Saturday's liturgy is the celebration of Christ coming out the tomb.


Easter Triduum Schedule is as follows:
HOLY THURSDAY: Holy Mass at 6:30PM at St. Joseph R.C. Church. Please walk with a loaf of bread.
GOOD FRIDAY: Stations of the Cross at 6AM from the Church to Calvary Hill. Passion and Veneration of our Jesus Christ at 3PM in St. Joseph R.C. Church
GLORIA SATURDAY: Easter Vigil at 9PM in St. Joseph R.C. Church. Please walk with your candles.
EASTER SUNDAY: Holy Mass at 7AM in St. Jude's Chapel, Mt.D'or & 8:30AM at St. Joseph R.C. Church.

Holy Week!

Welcome to the Biggest and Most Celebrated Week in the Liturgical Calendar. Palm Sunday opens this solemn week and it is a build up to the Easter Triduum which is what the Catholic faith is centered around. Holy Week consists of Holy Thursday (The Last Supper), Good Friday (The Crucifixion & Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord) and Gloria Saturday (The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Our Lord). Lent officially ends on Holy Thursday!

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him.

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper in which Christ broke bread with his 12 apostles around table.It was at this occassion that Jesus washed the feet of his apostles and knowing that one of the 12 were to betray him. Following the sacred supper, Christ spent the entire night in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane which was immediately followed by his arrest and taken before the chief priests and scribes. As a Church, we are encouraged to 'eat' with Christ. The Priest consecrates enough Eucharist at this mass since no consecration is allowed on the Good Friday service.

On Good Friday, outside the gates of Jerusalem, Jesus was ordered to be crucified. At that time, it was the most cruel way for any human to die. After being crowned with thorns, spat upon, insulted, beaten with whips, humiliated, stripped of his graments, nailed to a wooden cross, made to drink gall and vinegar, and wounded by a lance, Jesus finally breathed his last after three hours of agony on the cross. As a Church we are encouraged to 'die' with Christ. A Eucharistic Service, not a Mass, formally called the Passion and Veneration of the Cross, is carried out in the afternoon session to commemorate the hour Christ died. The faithful are encouraged to prayer for the Chruch, The Holy Father, Ourselves and other members of the Clergy, and those in secular authority during the General Intercessions and they all venerate the Holy Cross on which has hung the Saviour of the World.

Holy Saturday, aka Gloria Saturday, the church remains closed since no Masses are allowed to take place before the Vigil Hour (usually 6pm and beyond). As a Church we are to remain 'low' with Christ. However, when the Easter Vigil officially begins, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, coming out of the tomb. The Easter Vigil liturgy is the most beautiful liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church. It marks the beginning of Easter. This celebration is divided into four (4) parts: The Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, The Liturgy of Baptism and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Service of Light; The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed. The Priest lights a special candle called 'The Paschal Candle' which symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World. The candle is then processed through the church, with the deacon lifting the candle at three different times, singing: Christ our light (Lumen Christi) and the congregation sings in reply: Thanks be to God (Deo gratias). Everyone lights their candle from the Easter candle and continue in procession until the whole church is alight. The Deacon then chants the Exsultet (The Easter Proclamation).

The Liturgy of the Word; While the Church remains in darkenss, the second part of the Celebration begins, the Liturgy of the Word, where the faithful listen to God's word and meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time. Nine (9) readings are done; seven (7) from the Old Testament, One from the New Tastament which is called the Epistle and the Gospel. The Gloria is sung before the reading of the Epistle of the Romans, and the Alleluia is sung before the Gospel.

The Liturgy of Baptism; During this time the Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, and the faithful are blessed with water and renew their baptismal promises.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist; The Mass resumes with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharist Prayer. The whole church is then called to join at the sacrificial table that Christ prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The rest of the Liturgy continues as normal, bearing in mind the New Life that has been granted.

As a Church we are to 'rise' with Christ.

Easter Sunday, Holy Mass is celebrated only in a condensed fashion.

At St. Joseph/ Mt. D'or our Easter Triduum goes as follows:
Holy Thursday: 6.30PM at St. Joseph R.C. Church (please walk with a loaf of bread)
Good Friday: Stations of the Cross beginning at the Church at 6AM and Passion and Veneration of the Cross at 3PM at St. Joseph R.C. Church
Gloria Saturday: Easter Vigil at 9PM at St. Joseph R.C. Church
Easter Sunday: 7AM at St. Jude's Chapel and 8:30AM at St. Joseph R.C. Church
Easter Monday: 7AM at St. Joseph R.C. Church.

Chrism Mass 2013

What happens at the Chrism Mass?
At the Offertory, the three Holy Oils are carried up to the sanctuary by concelebrating priests with gifts of bread and wine offered up by the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Blessing of the Oil of the Sick
The Oil of the Sick is blessed by the Bishop during the Eucharistic Prayer. Before the Bishop says “Through Christ our Lord/ you give us all these gifts” in Eucharistic Prayer I or the doxology “Through Him” in the other Eucharistic  prayers, the one who carried the vessel for oil of the sick brings it in front of the Bishop while he blesses the oil.

After the blessing, the vessel of the oil of the sick is returned to its place, and the Mass continues until the Communion Rite is completed.

Blessing of the Oil of the Catechumens
Following the Prayer after Communion, the concelebrating priests place the oils to be blessed on a table suitable located in the centre of the sanctuary. The concelebrating priests stand around the Bishop on either side, in a semicircle and the other ministers stand behind him. The Bishop then faces the people, and with his hands extended sings or prays the prayer of blessing of the oil of catechumens.

Consecration of the Chrism
Then the Bishop pours the balsam or perfume in the oil and mixes the Chrism in silence, after which he says the invitation. The Bishop then breathes over the open vessel which contains the Chrism and sings or prays the Consecratory Prayer. This is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who blew over the face of the waters before creation (Gen 1, 2b), and of the risen Jesus, who appeared to his disciples and breathed on them saying “Receive the Holy Spirit...,” (John 20, 22-23). It is the Holy Spirit who consecrates this oil through the Bishop’s invocation. During which time, all concelebrating priests will join in silence, by extending their right hands toward the Chrism, signifying their participation in his authority, through which Christ Himself sanctifies and builds up His body, the Church.

At the end of the liturgy, the holy oils are distributed to the priests of the diocese, for their respective parishes.

It is recommended that each parish keep the vessels containing the Holy Oil in a special clear glass cabinet called an ambry, were they can be viewed by all the faithful. Many newer churches have an ambry, which is usually located close to the baptismal font. It reminds all who see it of the anointing which unites and strengthens us to live as one body in Christ, and comes to us through ministry of His Church.

On Monday March 25th, the Annual Chrism Mass will be held at Fatima R.C. Church, Curepe at 5pm. Our parish representatives are Margaret & Kumar Mahabir. 

Easter Schedule 2013

25^th March 2013       Holy Monday

6:00 am                      Morning Mass (confession before and after)

            5:00 pm                      Chrismal Mass at Fatima Parish, Curepe

26^th March, 2013       Holy Tuesday

            6:00 am                      Morning Mass (confession before and after)

27^th March, 2013       Holy Wednesday

            6:00 am                      Morning Mass (confession before and after)

28^th March, 2013       HOLY THURSDAY

            6:30 pm                      Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper

            8:30pm                       Compline

         9 pm- 12am                  Vigil (prayer led by TVY, Youth Group and                                                

           Confirmation Candidates)

29^th March, 2013       GOOD FRIDAY

            6:00 am                      Stations of the Cross (Calvary Hill) Ecumenical

            9:00 am                      Morning Prayer (Tenebræ)

            3:00 pm                      Passion of the Lord

5:00 pm-7:00 pm                  Vigil (prayer led by Legion of Mary, Charismatic and    

                                                                 Lay Dominicans)                           

30^th March 2013                   HOLY SATURDAY

            9:00 am                      Morning Prayer (Tenebræ)

            9:00 pm                      EASTER VIGIL

31^st March 2013                    EASTER SUNDAY

            7:00 am                      Holy Mass (St. Jude’s)

            8:30 am                      Holy Mass (St. Joseph)

1^st -6^th April 2013   EASTER MONDAY - SATURDAY

            7:00 am                     Morning Mass

Parish Notices for Holy Week

1.     We are very grateful to all those who worked hard to prepare our celebration of St. Joseph last Sunday. We are uplifted by the good will, hard work, dedication, the spirit of community of our parishoners. We hope that we will be able to prepare even greater feast next year. We are very grateful for those who participate in our lenten retreats, went to the confesion on Friday evening, and prayed in these last few day for our community.

2.     The St. Vincent de Paul Society invites you to their annual Palm Sunday Walk. This begins at Cyril Ross Home, El Dorado Road, Tunapuna at 7.30 am and ends at Mt. Lambert Church with Mass. Check notice board for details.

3.     Please collect a copy of the Mass times schedule for the Easter Triduum. We would like to encourage you to participate in the great liturgy of the Holy Triduum - the Passover of Jesus Christ.

4.     The Last Supper Meal, Jesus broke bread and shared with his disciples. Our Holy Thursday tradition we are encouraged to bring a loaf of bread which we will distributed to the poor and needy.

5.     Twice yearly, the collection at Christmas and Easter Masses only throughout the Archdiocese are are pooled together. It is from this collection that the priests & administrators serving in our archdiocese receive their monthly income.  Please give generously at this time.

St. Joseph Feast Day 2013

The Feast Day of St. Joseph was indeed an incredible one. We were blessed with the presence of the Vicar for Clergy, Fr. Clyde Harvey who lead us in the liturgy with Fr. Gerard Tangchoon providing a remarkable and "nostalgic" homily. We were joined by the St. Michael's R.C., Maracus St Joseph Parish who shared the liturgy with us and we graciously thank them. Many parishioners turned up to celebrate our faith as community with great weather. We thank the hard-working team who coordinated this event and we ask God to bless them and bless the entire parish of St. Joseph & St. Michael's for a deepening of faith. St. Joseph, Pray for us! View some selected photos that were taken at the celebrations HERE

Parish Retreats

On Tuesday March 19th 
Day 1 of the Lenten Retreat (St. Joseph Feast Day)
Holy Mass begins at 6pm with Fr. Jason Grell, FMI

On Wednesday March 20th
Day 2 of the Lenten Retreat 
6pm

On Thursday March 21st
Day 3 of the Lenten Retreat
6pm

On Friday March 22nd
Way of the Cross at Calvary Hill, St. Joseph at 6pm
Penitential Service at St. Joseph RC at 7pm
(Individual Confessions available)

Feast Day Celebrations!

St. Joseph Feast Day: Sunday March 17th
Procession begins at the St. Joseph RC Church at 9.30am which leads to the First Capital Park where Holy Mass begins at 10.00am. Chief Celebrant, Fr. Clyde Harvey with Fr. Karol Wielgosz and Fr. Gerard Tangchoon (Homilist) as the concelebrants.

Following mass will be a "bring and share" picnic with live performances by the schools of the community.

Come out & enjoy!!

Parish Notices for the 5th Week of Lent

1.    We are very grateful for all our parishoners who in so many ways are involved in our celebration of the feast of St. joseph. We are happy because of it.

2.    Fridays of Lent we celebrate the Way of the Cross organized by the Youth Group and TVY Teams. We begin at the foot of Calvary at 6 pm. Stations of the Cross will also be celebrated at 6 pm every Friday in St. Jude Chapel in Mt. D’or. We would like to encourage all parishioners to participate in this noble lenten prayer in which we meditate the sacrifice of our Redeemer.

3.    Registration of children for confirmation programs is ongoing. You can do this on Saturday mornings at 9 am.

4.    The next Infant Baptism is on Easter Sunday – Sunday 31^st March. Registration on Monday afternoons is ongoing. Parents are asked to bring the original birth paper when registering.

5.    Parish Lenten Retreat at St. Joseph on Tuesday 19^th March @ 6pm and continues to Thursday 21^st . And closes with a penitential service on Friday 22^nd beginning with Stations of the Cross.

6.    We remember about our formar Parish Priest Fr. Donnie McMahon who celebrate today his 90^th birthday.