Join us to celebrate the Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday
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Join us for the Easter Triduum at St. Robert of Newminster (SRN)! The Sacred Paschal Triduum is the three most solemn days of the liturgical year: from the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday.
We invite you to attend the Triduum liturgies, preparing to enter into the 50 days of the Easter season with a renewed sense of faith, hope and joy.
For our Holy Week and Easter schedule and additional details, please visit the Holy Week and Easter at SRN page on our website.
Please see below for all you need to know about our Triduum liturgies and Easter Sunday parking information.
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Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday)
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Thursday, April 2: 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Things to Know for Holy Thursday:
- Incense WILL BE used at this Mass.
- During Mass, Father Tony will wash the feet of 12 individuals of our parish representing Jesus’ 12 Apostles. Each person invited to participate represents a particular meaningful facet of our parish community.
- Following Mass, please depart from the church in sacred silence. Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place after Mass in the Parish Life Center (PLC), see details below.
- In addition to joining in the processional for the Reposition from the Sanctuary to the PLC, all the faithful are invited to join Father Tony at 11:50 p.m. on Thursday for Compline (Liturgy of the Hours).
- If you would like to participate in this beautiful experience, please gather in the PLC no later than 11:45 p.m.; enter silently through Doors E, M or N. Please see our website for the Instructions on Compline (Liturgy of the Hours) created as a guide to prepare you.
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REPOSITION OF
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Immediately following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, a processional will be formed in which the Blessed Sacrament, led by the altar servers, priest, deacon, and the choir, will be carried through the church to a place of repose in the the Parish Life Center. The Blessed Sacrament will stay in repose until midnight. All are invited to join in the processional. Please maintain sacred silence as you depart Mass and during the procession if you will be participating.
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Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord
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Friday, April 3: 1:00 p.m., Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross, Sanctuary
Things to Know for Good Friday:
- Incense WILL NOT be used at this liturgy.
- Veneration of the Cross is a solemn Good Friday ritual during which the faithful show reverence to the crucifix, symbolizing gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice. It involves approaching an unveiled cross, often in a procession, and performing an act of devotion—such as kissing, touching, or bowing to the cross while reflecting on Christ’s passion.
- Fasting and Abstinence:
- Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics ages 14 and older on Good Friday.
- Fasting is to be observed by all Catholics, 18 years old but not yet 59 years old, on Good Friday. Those bound by this regulation may only take one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted, if necessary, to maintain strength according to one’s needs. Eating solid food (snacks) in between meals is not permitted.
- Excused from abstinence and fasting (outside age limits) are those who are physically and mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.
- The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. See details below.
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Pray a Divine Mercy Novena
daily beginning Good Friday, April 3 through Saturday, April 11.
The novena will be prayed daily at 3:00 p.m. in the Eucharistic Chapel, April 3-11, and on April 12, a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Divine Mercy Sunday will be prayed, also in the Chapel. (Enter through Door C) Please join us for all or part of this beautiful and powerful devotion. The praying of the Chaplet takes about 15 minutes. Prayer guides will be provided.
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Saturday, April 4:
Blessing of Easter Food
12:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Bring any food you plan to serve during your Easter meal in a basket or other similar container to be blessed by Father Tony. Please be prompt! The blessing is about a 10-minute service at St. Robert. See additional details on our website.
Divine Mercy Novena
3:00 p.m., Eucharistic Chapel
Easter Vigil Mass
9:00 p.m., Lighting of the New Fire on the north lawn followed by a procession into the church
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Things to Know for Easter Vigil:
- Incense WILL be used at this Mass
- The faithful are invited to join in the Lighting of the New Fire at 9:00 p.m. on the north lawn, outside Door D. Please gather by 8:45 p.m. Following the lighting of the New Fire, we will process into the church. Those with limited mobility may go directly into to the Sanctuary for the start of Mass if they wish.
- The Vigil is anticipated to conclude at 12:30 a.m. A reception to celebrate and welcome our parish’s new Catholics will be held in Newminster Hall following the Vigil Mass. All are welcome! See details below.
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Easter Vigil reception: Join in this late-night celebration for our parish’s new Catholics!
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Join us to celebrate and welcome our parish’s new Catholics into our Church and parish family!
At the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 4, our parish will welcome 24 individuals into the Catholic Church! Following the Vigil Mass, which is anticipated to conclude at approximately 12:30 a.m., we invite all members of our parish family to a reception celebrating these individuals and welcoming them into our Church and parish family.
Reception details:
Time: Approximately 12:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (following the conclusion of the Easter Vigil Mass)
Location: Newminster Hall
Refreshments will be served!
We still have need of volunteers to help with service and cleanup during the reception. If you’re willing and available, please sign up at https://tinyurl.com/SRNEasterVigil2026ReceptSignUp
About the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Individuals who wish to become Catholic or desire full communion with the Catholic Church receive sacramental preparation according to the framework of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.). Individuals who take part in the O.C.I.A. process may never have been baptized, were baptized in another faith, or are baptized Catholics who desire to receive the sacraments of confirmation and Holy Eucharist. For some, this process involves a long period of searching; for others, a shorter time.
If you or someone you know is curious about the Catholic faith, or would like to become Catholic, please reach out for a conversation with our Director of Faith Formation Hans Whitmer who leads the O.C.I.A. process, or catch up with him during this Saturday’s reception. He can be reached at (616) 676-9111, ext. 117 or HWhitmer@strobertchurch.org.
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Easter: The Resurrection of the Lord
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
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Sunday, April 5
Mass Times:
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
in the Sanctuary.
Divine Mercy Novena
3:00 p.m., Eucharistic Chapel
Things to Know for Easter Sunday:
- Incense WILL be used at both Masses.
- Please see below for parking information.
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Parking for Easter Masses
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All parking around our campus is open and available. Parking guides wearing reflective vests will be positioned around our parking lot to help welcome and direct parishioners and visitors as they enter our campus. Please watch for them!
We still have need of parking guide volunteers for Easter morning. If you are available, please sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/SRNEaster2026PkgGuideSignUp
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Additional Things to Know for Easter Sunday:
- Because attendance at Easter often increases significantly, please arrive early for Mass!
- Enter through doors B, C, or D
- All of Parking Lot A will be designated for handicap parking (When facing the church from Ada Dr., Lot A is on the far right of the building adjacent to the circle drive at Door B.)
- Handicap accessible entrances: Doors B and D
- The circle drives at Doors B and D are for one-way drop off traffic only. No parking please.
- The Sanctuary is equipped with an audio induction loop for those with hearing aids. Please see an usher for assistance.
The full Holy Week and Easter schedule and parking details are also available at: strobertchurch.org/easter-at-srn.
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CRS Rice Bowls are due back to the parish! You may bring your bowls to any liturgy during Holy Week, including Easter Sunday. Please drop them in the designated baskets in the Gathering Area.
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Watch Live: Holy Week liturgies from the Cathedral
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For our friends, loved ones and community members who are hospitalized or homebound, all Masses of the Easter Triduum (with the exception of the Easter Vigil) celebrated by Bishop Walkowiak at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Grand Rapids website and YouTube Channel. Please share!
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Parish Office and School Hours for Holy Week and Easter
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- The Parish Office will close at noon on Good Friday, April 3
- And will be closed for the day on Monday, April 6 in observance of Easter. Our staff will be back in the office to serve you on Tuesday, April 7.
- St. Robert Catholic School will be closed during spring break, April 6 to 10. Classes resume for students and staff on Monday, April 13. Have a safe and enjoyable spring break, Mighty Shepherds!
For those traveling during this time, find a Mass near you by visiting https://masstimes.org/.
Have a blessed and joyous Easter Sunday and season!
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As a Catholic community, we proclaim the Good News by serving God and neighbor as we grow in loving relationship with Christ.
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Be a vibrant, welcoming faith community inviting all people to know Christ through
worship and sacraments,
evangelization and catechesis,
charity and service.
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