Holy Week and Easter 2001

Each year our community in Boston solemnly celebrates the Paschal Triduum and Easter Sunday, inviting young women interested in religious life to join us. Here are a few glimpses into those days and into our community.

Each Holy Thursday evening the community keeps company with Jesus after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We pray together before the Eucharist for an hour—"Will you watch an hour with me?" Jesus asked his closest friends. Sr. Theresa Mary, one of the first sisters in America, arrived early to pray.

The veneration of the cross during the Good Friday Service at 3:00 which commemorates the Lord’s gift of himself for our redemption.

Anne Mei venerates the cross in the front of the chapel, Good Friday evening. Good Friday is a day of retreat and prayer for us.

Holy Saturday is a quiet day. There are many preparations for the Easter Celebration to do—decorating the chapel, a last minute choir rehearsal, practicing music, cleaning, and preparation for the meals of the next day. Sr. Margaret Timothy practices on the synthesizer in the choir loft.

The Easter Vigil begins at 7:30 in the evening of Holy Saturday with the Easter fire outside. Sr. Julie Ignatius holds the Easter Candle from which everybody will light the candles they each will hold while renewing their baptismal promises later during the Mass.

Postulants and professed sisters make up the choir.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises Easter Sunday. In the foreground are some of the young women who made a retreat with our community this Holy Week.

During the three days, the young women who were visiting joined the Postulants for classes with Sr. Martha, postulant director.

Lunch on Easter Sunday. Our refectory is a busy place during lunch with almost 80 sisters.

Our Senior Sisters

Our Postulants

The young women who spent Easter this year with us.

If you would like more information on religious life or retreats at the Daughters of St. Paul, contact Sr. Margaret Michael.