Our Lenten journey leads us to Holy Week and the glorious celebration of the summit of the liturgical year, the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
Holy Week Schedule
REMINDER: All parking around our campus is open and available. Because attendance at Holy Week and Easter liturgies often increases, we encourage you to carpool if possible and arrive early. Parking guides will be onsite on Easter morning to help guide and direct traffic.
CAMPUS MAP: For a map of our campus including parking areas, and entry points including handicap-accessible entrances, please visit the “I’m New” page of our website and scroll toward the bottom of the page.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Saturday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Please note: Incense WILL NOT be used at the 4:30 p.m. Mass; Incense WILL be used at the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Masses
Chrism Mass: Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew
This is a ticketed event, but will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Grand Rapids website.
Please note: Eucharistic Adoration and 6:30 p.m. Mass will NOT be offered on Tuesday, March 31 as Father Tony will be attending the Chrism Mass.
About the Paschal Triduum (see schedule below)
The Church has always celebrated the Paschal Triduum as Jesus’ fulfillment of the Jewish Passover. It was not by accident that Jesus’ Last Supper was celebrated within the context of the Passover Meal. Jesus knew the sacred Scriptures and how they all pointed towards Himself. He knew the promises and the prophecies which He would fulfill. Therefore, in his last days, as He sat down to celebrate His final Passover, He saw himself as fulfilling the ache of Israel for a new Moses and a new Exodus.
On the night of the Last supper, rather than recalling the covenant God made with Moses, the exodus from Egypt, and the blood of the sacrificial lamb spread upon the doorpost, Jesus did something new. He spoke about a New Covenant, an exodus from the slavery of sin, and the pouring fourth of His own blood on the wood of the Cross. Jesus knew exactly what he was doing. He was identifying himself as the long-awaited Moses who would set Israel free. Furthermore, he revealed that he was the definitive, unblemished lamb that would be sacrificed for the salvation of the world. And just as the Jewish lamb of sacrifice had to be eaten in order to complete the covenantal promise – so too, Jesus offered his own Body and Blood to be eaten in the form of bread and wine for ages to come: “Do this in memory of Me.”
Over the course of the next three days we enter into the Passover – Paschal – of Christ. We celebrate the exodus from the slavery of sin won for us through Jesus’ bloody sacrifice on the Cross. We praise Him for the New Manna – the Bread of the Angels – which He provides as food for the journey towards the Promised Land. And we rejoice that we have been definitively claimed by God: cleansed, anointed and given New Life in the waters of Baptism. Truly “we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!”
Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday): Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. Please maintain sacred silence as you depart from Mass.
Please note: Incense WILL be used at this Mass. There will be no 9:00 a.m. Mass or Eucharistic Adoration offered on Holy Thursday.
LEARN MORE: What you’ll see at Holy Thursday Mass | Seven churches, one holy night (National Catholic Register)
This sacred celebration begins by reflecting on two great mysteries: the Priesthood and the Eucharist.
There will be no 9:00 a.m. Mass or Eucharistic Adoration offered on Holy Thursday.
Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament/Altar of Repose: Thursday, April 2 immediately following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper until Midnight in the Parish Life Center (PLC).
Immediately following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, a processional will be formed in which the Blessed Sacrament, led by the altar servers, the priest, deacon, and the choir, will be carried through the church to a place of repose, the PLC. The Blessed Sacrament will stay in repose until midnight. All are invited to join in the processional and stay for a time in silent prayer. Please maintain sacred silence as you depart Mass and during the procession if you will be participating.
General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours (Compline): Later on that night, all the faithful are invited to join Father Tony for Compline (Liturgy of the Hours) at 11:50 p.m. Please enter silently through Doors E, M or N, and gather in the PLC no later than 11:45 p.m. if you would like to participate in this beautiful experience. Please use this document, as a guide to prepare you. Printed copies will also be available in the PLC.
Good Friday Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross: Friday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Please note: Incense WILL NOT be used at this liturgy.
The 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 a unveiled cross, often in a procession, and performing an act of devotion—such as kissing, touching, or bowing to the cross—reflecting on Christ’s passion.
There will be no 9:00 a.m. Mass or Eucharistic Adoration offered on Good Friday.
The parish office will close at noon on Good Friday.
Fasting and Abstinence for Good Friday:
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 on each of those days. 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.
Divine Mercy Novena:
Beginning after the Good Friday liturgy, the Divine Mercy Novena will be prayed at 3:00 p.m. and daily through Saturday, April 11 in the Eucharistic Chapel (enter through Door C). The praying of the Chaplet takes about 15 minutes. Prayer guides will be provided. On April 12, Divine Mercy Sunday, a Eucharistic Holy Hour will be prayed. Please join us for all or part of this beautiful and powerful devotion.
Learn more about the origins of Divine Mercy and the plenary indulgences of Holy Week, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday available to all Catholics on the diocesan website at
https://grdiocese.org/divine-mercy-sunday-jesus-message-of-mercy-shared-around-the-world/.
Blessing of the Easter Food: Saturday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Bring any food you plan to serve during your Easter meal in a basket or other similar container to be blessed by our priest. A cherished Catholic tradition, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, where food for Easter Sunday is brought to church on Holy Saturday to be blessed. It symbolizes the end of Lenten fasting, gratitude for nourishment, and Christ’s resurrection. The tradition dates back to the 7th – 12th centuries. Enter the Sanctuary and place your baskets on the altar steps. Please be prompt! The blessing is about a 10-minute service at St. Robert.
Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday): Saturday, April 4 at 9:00 p.m. The faithful are invited to gather on the north lawn of our campus (outside Door D) for the Lighting of the New Fire between 8:30 and 8:40 p.m. We are happy to be welcoming 24 people into full communion with the Catholic Church during this Mass!
Please note: Incense WILL be used at this Mass. The Vigil Mass will be the only Mass celebrated on April 4. Confession and Eucharistic Adoration will not be offered.
Celebrate with us! A reception will be held in Newminster Hall following the Vigil to welcome our parish’s new Catholics. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome! (Please note: the Easter Vigil Mass is anticipated to last around 3.5 hours concluding at approximately 12:30 a.m. The reception will begin after that.)
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord: Sunday, April 5, Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Please note: Incense WILL be used at both the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Masses.
Things to Note:
- Enter the church through Doors B, C, or D.
- Handicap accessible entrances: Doors B and D.
- Handicap Parking: Lot A, near Door C and adjacent to Door D
- The circle drives by Doors B and D are available for one-way, drop-off traffic only. No parking in these drives please.
- The Sanctuary is equipped with an audio induction loop for hearing aids. Please see an usher for assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: The parish office will be closed on Easter Monday, April 6.
Special Events
Divine Mercy Novena
Blessing of Easter Food
First Communion Mass
Confirmation Mass
Seasonal Resources
Bring the story of the Resurrection to life with these special Easter resources, available through FORMED®. To access these resources (and other exceptional Catholic content), sign up for your FORMED® account today! Your access is compliments of St. Robert of Newminster Parish. Visit signup.formed.org and enter our zip code (49301) to select our parish. Contact the Faith Formation Office with any questions.
He is Alive! | Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids
Why can we have hope? Because we know how the story ends . . . with the most incredible miracle ever! Follow along and experience the joy of Jesus’ friends as they discover He defeated death and rose from the grave.
Join Minno kids Margot, Lexi, Miguel, and Logan as they continue their journey through Jesus’ life and learn the story of Easter. This gentle retelling—from Jesus’ miracles to the greatest miracle of all—His resurrection, will help kids understand why Jesus came to earth to be our Savior and our friend.
Easter Sunday: Jesus’ Resurrection
Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber celebrate Easter Sunday with a Bible Study on the Resurrection of Jesus.
Easter in Art: the Harrowing of Hell
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to discuss a famous painting of Jesus’s descent into hell and the theology behind it.
Easter in Art: the Resurrection
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to discuss a famous painting of the Resurrection of Christ and the theology behind it.
Dr. Ben Akers and Taylor Kemp sit down to discuss a famous painting of Jesus’s encounter with Mary Magdalene following the Resurrection and the theology behind it.
The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection of Jesus
Have you ever wanted to grow in your understanding and devotion to the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary? Join Dr. Ben Akers and professors from the Augustine Institute Graduate School as they walk through these Biblical mysteries and seek to grow in understanding and love for Christ through them.
What is the Resurrection? What do we mean when we say Jesus “rose from the dead”? Dr. Pitre lays out the evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, focusing on three things:the empty tomb, the appearances of Jesus to his disciples, and the fulfillment of scripture.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
How do we know Jesus rose from the dead? Dr. Michael Barber and Chris Stefanick discuss various oppositions to the truth that Jesus actually died and rose from the dead.