Easter is all about beginning anew. It is the most important Christian celebration because it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus--the foundation of the Christian faith. HNMCS began our spiritual preparations on February 13, Shrove Tuesday, with a feast of pancakes for Middle School and Senior School to lead into the Lenten season.

The following day, Father Roger led Ash Wednesday mass and the Felician Sisters administered the ashes to students and faculty as we began the 40 days of lent and self sacrifice. Those sacrifices were written on the walls outside the Chapel doors to symbolize our solidarity with Jesus’ sacrifice and the 40 days he spent in the wilderness, fasting and facing temptation. Lent is an opportunity to deepen our faith and our joy in Jesus’ resurrection.

Holy Week, the days leading up to the great Easter celebration, started with each student and faculty member writing a biblical verse on a heart and displaying those verses on classroom doors. The verses were reminders of Christ’s love for us all. Jesus, suffered, died and rose again to forgive us our sins and offer us everlasting life in Heaven.

On March 28, Father Roger, Father Gordon, Father Jim and Father John administered the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation to the entire school community. Holy Thursday saw the HNMCS community re-enact the Stations of the Cross and sing Taize prayer cannons to close the paraliturgy. 

Father Roger led Easter Mass and the joyous celebration of the resurrection of Christ.