Sundays
Saturday Evening Vigil Mass 5:20 PM
(for more info see "Saturday" below)
Sung Matins/Morning Prayer 8:30 AM
Everyone sits up in in the choir section of the church, near the High Altar. Even when people come late, they join us in these pews near the altar. A service of prayers, psalms and readings said by all. When Morning Prayer is sung it is called Sung Matins. (approximately 20 minutes)
Sung Mass 9:00 AM
A little music, a little incense and a lot of God! This service of the Holy Eucharist involves congregational singing and is accompanied by the organ. (approximately 45 minutes)
Christian Education 10:00 AM
Christian Education is offered for all between our two major Sunday morning services. It is held in the Mission House. Christian Education does not meet during the summer. (approximately 45 minutes)
Said Mass 10:00 AM
A Low Mass with a brief homily. The 10:00 AM Mass on Sundays is held in the Lady Chapel (near 47th Street).(approximately 40 minutes)
Solemn Mass 11:00 AM
This is a High Mass in which, during the summer, a cantor sings the Gregorian chant propers for the day in Latin and an anthem. The congregation sings the settings of the Mass. (During the academic year, October to early June), the chant and Mass propers are sung by the professional Saint Mary's choir.) The Solemn Mass includes full organ, hymns, scriptures, prayers and sermon. (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes)
Solemn Evensong & Benediction 5:00 PM
(October - May)
When Evening Prayer is sung it is called Evensong. A service of prayers, psalms and readings sung by all. A sermon conludes Evensong. Evensong is followed by Eucharistic Exposition & Benediction, a breif service of devotion of the Blessed Sacrament. (approximately 50 minutes)
In the Summer months Evensong & Benediction is replaced with Evening Prayer & Low Mass at 5:00 PM.
Monday through Friday
Morning Prayer 8:30 AM
Everyone sits up in in the choir section of the church, near the High Altar. Even when people come late, they join us in these pews near the altar. A service of prayers, psalms and readings said by all. (approximately 20 minutes)
Noonday Office 12:00 PM
A service of prayers, psalms and readings led by the clergy but said by all. (approximately 10 minutes)
Mass 12:10 PM
A Low Mass with a brief homily. (approximately 30 minutes)
(On Wednesdays) Sung Mass 12:10 PM
A little music, a little incense and a lot of God! (approximately 30 minutes)
On Thursdays, the 12:15 PM and 6:20 PM Masses are Healing Masses which offer anointing with oil and prayers for healing and wholeness.
Evening Prayer 6:00 PM
A service of prayers, psalms and readings (approximately 20 minutes)
Mass 6:20 PM
A Low Mass with a brief homily. (approximately 30 minutes)
On Thursdays, the 12:15 PM and 6:20 PM Masses are Healing Masses which offer anointing with oil and prayers for healing and wholeness.
Saturdays
Noonday Office 12:00 PM
As outlined above.
Mass 12:15 PM
A Low Mass with a brief homily. (approximately 30 minutes)
Confessions 11:30 AM to 11:55 AM, 4:00 PM to 4:55 PM Most confessions are said using the Book of Common Prayer (Page 447) and are heard either in the confessional or in one of the chapels.
Evening Prayer 5:00 PM
A service of prayers, psalms and readings (approximately 20 minutes)
Saturday Evening Vigil Mass 5:20 PM
A Low Mass with a brief homily. This Mass uses the readings and prayers appropriate for Sunday. (approximately 40 minutes).
The Christian Church has inherited the understanding of time from the Jewish Tradition, understanding one day's end with sunset. After sunset is the beginning of a new day. For this reason, the evening before a Sunday, or the evening before a Feast Day is regarded as the Eve of Sunday or the Eve of that Feast Day. The use of the word Vigil refers to the "night before" and in this context has nothing to do with the popular understanding of a vigil as a time of mourning. To the contrary, the Saturday Vigil Mass is filled with the same sense of Resurrection Joy as any Sunday. The Saturday evening Mass and the Sunday 10 AM Mass are identical.
