On Passion Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 7:30pm at St Anthony’s Church in Calgary, the candlelit St John Choir Schola Tenebrae service followed our salvation narrative through crucial moments in Scripture, culminating in the betrayal and Passion of Christ. Together with the beautifully stirring music of the SJCS choirs, the sequence of short readings drew us deeply into a meditation upon the unfathomable mercy and love of God.
Marked by solemnity and stillness, the SJCS Tenebrae retains many of the traditional elements dating back to the 9th century: the gradual extinguishing of candles (representing the abandonment of Christ by his disciples) and the gathering dusk; the last candle, the Christ candle, being ‘entombed’ by being removed from sight, leaving the church in dark silence; and the abrupt noise called the strepitus, intended to evoke the convulsion of the earth at the moment of Christ's death, and the rolling of the stone across the entrance to his grave.
Into that stillness, when darkness appears to have overcome the Light, the Christ candle returns. Christ the Redeemer tramples death by death.
All departed in silence.
Marked by solemnity and stillness, the SJCS Tenebrae retains many of the traditional elements dating back to the 9th century: the gradual extinguishing of candles (representing the abandonment of Christ by his disciples) and the gathering dusk; the last candle, the Christ candle, being ‘entombed’ by being removed from sight, leaving the church in dark silence; and the abrupt noise called the strepitus, intended to evoke the convulsion of the earth at the moment of Christ's death, and the rolling of the stone across the entrance to his grave.
Into that stillness, when darkness appears to have overcome the Light, the Christ candle returns. Christ the Redeemer tramples death by death.
All departed in silence.
Here is our listing of ALL SJCS events:
Sept 1st |
First Friday Mass & Staff Oath of Fidelity @ 12:15pm - St Peter's |
Sept 9th |
Family Welcome Back BBQ on campus |
Oct 6th |
First Friday Mass @ noon - Our Lady of the Assumption Church - ALL WELCOME! |
Oct 16th |
SJCS AGM @ 7:00pm |
Nov 1st |
Poetry Slam Qualification Round in auditorium - ALL WELCOME! |
Nov 3rd |
First Friday Mass @ noon - Our Lady of the Assumption Church - ALL WELCOME! |
Nov 5th |
SMALL Senior Choir sings at 10:30am Mass - St Bonaventure |
Nov 10th |
Poetry Slam 1:30pm in auditorium - LIVE STREAMED |
Dec 1st |
First Friday Mass @ noon - Ascension Church - ALL WELCOME! |
Dec 6th |
Little Lambs Showcase @ 2:45pm in the gym |
Dec 17th |
Nine Lessons & Carols @ 7:30pm - Cathedral - ALL WELCOME! |
Jan 12th |
First Friday Mass @ 12:15pm - St Peter's - ALL WELCOME! |
Feb 2nd |
First Friday Mass @ noon - Location TBD - ALL WELCOME! |
Feb 10th |
Family Winter Dance @ 5:30pm in the gym |
Feb 18th |
Senior Choir sings at 11am Mass - Location TBD (optional) |
Mar 8th |
First Friday Mass @ 3pm - St Anthony's - ALL WELCOME! |
Mar 24th |
Tenebrae - Lenten Lessons & Hymns @ 7:30pm - St Anthony's - ALL WELCOME! |
Apr 5th |
First Friday Mass @ noon Our Lady of the Assumption - ALL WELCOME! |
May 3rd |
First Friday Mass @ noon - Our Lady of the Rockies Shrine in CANMORE - ALL WELCOME! |
May 4th |
Graduation Banquet @ 6pm - Location TBD |
May 8th |
Little Lambs Showcase @ 2:45pm in the gym |
May 22nd |
Awards Ceremony & Graduation Convocation 3pm auditorium – LIVE-STREAMED |
May 27th |
Year-end Performance @ 6:30pm - First Baptist Church - ALL WELCOME! |
FIRST FRIDAY MASS LOCATIONS
September 1, 2023 at 12:15pm
(Friday Week 21 of Ordinary Time) World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation Location: St Peter's Church All Welcome Fr Gibson, celebrant October 6, 2023 at 12pm (Friday Week 27 of Ordinary Time) OM: Bld Marie-Rose Durocher & St. Bruno Location: Assumption Church All Welcome Fr Emmelkamp, celebrant November 3, 2023 at 12pm (Friday Week 30 of Ordinary Time) OM: St. Martin de Porres Location: Assumption Church All Welcome Fr Emmelkamp, celebrant December 1, 2023 at 12pm (Friday Week 34 of Ordinary Time) M: St Charles Borromeo Location: Ascension Church All Welcome Fr Gannon, celebrant January 12, 2024 at 12:15pm (Friday Week 2 of Ordinary Time) M: St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Location: St Peter's Church All Welcome Fr Gibson, celebrant |
February 2, 2024 at 12pm
(Friday Week 4 of Ordinary Time) THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (F) ~ World Day for Consecrated Life ~ Location: TBD All Welcome March 8, 2024 at 3pm (Friday Week 2 of Lent) ~ World Day of Prayer ~ Location: St Anthony's Church All Welcome Fr Siray, celebrant April 5, 2024 at noon (Friday in the Octave of Easter) Location: Assumption Church All Welcome Fr Emmelkamp, celebrant May 3, 2024 at 12pm (Friday of Week 5 of Easter) F: St. Philip and St. James Location: Our Lady of the Rockies All Welcome Fr Lezano , celebrant |