Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis can’t celebrate Holy Week in their parishes this year, so Church leaders are bringing daily prayers, spiritual talks and the Triduum liturgies to Catholics’ homes — through a virtual Holy Week retreat.

The retreat begins with 9 a.m. Mass Palm Sunday and concludes with Mass Easter Sunday. The retreat can be found at archspm.org/holyweek.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens invite all the Catholics in the archdiocese to participate online, as they enter Holy Week under Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s such a great pain in my heart that we can’t all be together in this time, especially as holy week approaches,” Bishop Cozzens said in a video message posted on the archdiocese’s website. “But we want you to know that we’re doing our best to provide spiritual resources.”

The retreat will include daily morning prayer and lectio divina at 9 am., and a “spiritual conference,” or talk, at 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday. On Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the Triduum liturgies will be celebrated at 7 p.m.

“Together we can enter into the deep spiritual meaning of Holy Week even if we can’t be together physically,” Bishop Cozzens said.

“God bless you,” he added. “Please know that we’re united in prayer in these difficult times.”

The schedule is  below. Liturgy and morning prayer guides are available along with a livestream of the retreat at archspm.org/holyweek.

Virtual Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday, April 5

9 a.m. Mass from The St. Paul Seminary.

7 p.m. Opening retreat conference given by Archbishop Hebda at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Holy Monday, April 6

9 a.m. Morning Prayer from the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters, followed by directed Lectio Divina on the Gospel of the Day, Jn 12:1-11.

7 p.m. Retreat conference given by Father Peter Williams, pastor of St. Ambrose in Woodbury.

Holy Tuesday, April 7

9 a.m. Morning Prayer from the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, followed by directed Lectio Divina on the Gospel of the day, John 13.

7 p.m. Retreat conference: “Hope Amidst Isolation”: Lessons from the Garden of Gethsemane given by Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Spy Wednesday, April 8

9 a.m. Morning prayer from Carmelite Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Demontreville, followed by directed Lectio Divina on the Gospel of the day, Mt 26:14-25.

7 p.m. Retreat conference given by Bishop Cozzens.

Holy Thursday, April 9

9 a.m. Morning prayer from The St. Paul Seminary followed by directed Lectio Divina on John 13, Jesus’ foot washing.

7 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper Cathedral of St. Paul with Archbishop Hebda presiding.

Good Friday, April 10

9 a.m. Morning Prayer at the Cathedral of St. Paul, followed by directed Lectio Divina on the Passion.

7 p.m. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral of St. Paul with Bishop Cozzens presiding.

Holy Saturday, April 11

9 a.m. Morning Prayer at the Cathedral of St. Paul, followed by directed Lectio Divina on the Holy Saturday reading.

8:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul with Archbishop Hebda presiding.

Easter Sunday, April 12

9:30 a.m. Easter Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, with Archbishop Hebda presiding. Mass will be live streamed on the Basilica’s website and broadcast on 830AM, WCCO.