Bishop Soto, Bishop Weigand to preside at Triduum services this week

Bishop Jaime Soto and Bishop Emeritus William K. Weigand will preside over a full schedule of Triduum liturgies. All services will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located at 1017 11th St. in downtown Sacramento.

On Holy Thursday, April 6, at 12:10 p.m. Bishop Soto will celebrate a communal penance service with other priests in the Cathedral (there will be no Mass). That evening at 7 p.m. he will preside, with Bishop Weigand as concelebrant, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (bilingual), followed by eucharistic adoration in the lower level until 11 p.m.

On Good Friday, April 7, Bishop Soto will preside at the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 12:10 p.m. in the cathedral. The service will include the Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and Communion. Stations of the Cross will follow the liturgy. Bishop Weigand will preside at the Good Friday service in Spanish at 7:30 p.m. in the cathedral. Stations of the Cross in Spanish will precede the service at 7 p.m.

On Holy Saturday, April 8, Bishop Soto will preside at the celebration of the Easter Vigil liturgy at 9 p.m. in the cathedral. The Mass will be bilingual.

On Easter Sunday, April 9, Bishop Soto will preside at the celebration of Easter Mass (English) at 10 a.m. Bishop Weigand will preside at the celebration of Easter Mass at noon (Spanish). For a complete schedule of Holy Week and Easter liturgies at the cathedral, visit the cathedral website at www.cathedralsacramento.org.

On Holy Saturday, April 8, the Diocese of Sacramento, in collaboration with Radio Santisimo Sacramento (RSS), will host "Pilgrimage 2023 to the Seven Parishes" throughout regions of the diocese from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Radio Santisimo Sacramento (1240 AM) will broadcast the entire event live. For more information, visit www.radiosantisimosacramento.com.

In a letter to priests of the diocese, Bishop Soto noted that a plenary indulgence will be associated with participation with the pilgrimage along with the requisite confession, Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Bishop Soto added: "This year, we will offer a hybrid pilgrimage. For the able-bodied, there will be the traditional eight-mile pilgrimage in Sacramento. A map will be provided in advance with the route beginning on Holy Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 7am at St. Elizabeth Parish and continuing to the Sacramento Food Bank, Immaculate Conception Parish, Sacred Heart Parish, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and concluding at the Shrine of Guadalupe.

"For those who cannot walk or who are far from downtown Sacramento, there will be the opportunity participate in this pilgrimage driving in their cars to seven participating parishes in their area (as was done for three years due to the pandemic). More than 40 parishes ranging from Chico to Vallejo are participating in this version of the pilgrimage. RSS will provide crosses to be placed outside each parish. RSS will assign one ambassador to be stationed with each cross and guide the pilgrims as they visit each church. When the pilgrims arrive at each parish, they will pray for a few minutes in front of the cross and place their intentions there. The pilgrims then drive to six other churches in their area. At 1 p.m., each ambassador will carry the crosses from all 40 parishes to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I will bless the crosses that come from the different parishes at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine together with everyone who has completed the eight-mile pilgrimage around downtown Sacramento."