The Paschal Candle
One of the great symbols of Easter is our paschal candle. “Paschal,” of course, comes from the Hebrew word which means “Passover,” the event whose significance becomes the basis for our understanding of the Resurrection; thus, “paschal” in the Church tends to refer to the Easter mysteries: the Passion, Death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.The Paschal Candle is a symbol for us of Christ, and more specifically, of the light of Christ which comes to us in this glorious moment of His Resurrection. You’ll notice that throughout the Easter season, the candle is lit (to remind us of the Resurrection) and placed near the ambo, where the Word of God is read. It’s the Church’s way of drawing attention to the way the Gospel calls special attention to Christ and, in the Easter season, (you guessed it!) to His Resurrection. Interestingly, the other option for the Paschal Candle’s placement, which I’ve never been gutsy enough to pull off, is to place it directly in the center of the sanctuary. That’s right, smack dab in the middle of everything, where its light reminds us of the centrality of the Easter event. Maybe someday…
Besides Easter, of course, the Paschal Candle is lit at two very significant moments of the Christian life: on the day of our Baptism and on the day of our Christian funeral. These two moments form a sort of inclusion of the Christian life—the bookend moments, wherein God calls us His own and then calls us to Himself, we pray, for eternity. Thus, the Paschal Candle very strongly suggests the “Passover” event to us, as Baptism and death are both a sort of “passing over” from one way of life to another.
The Paschal Candle, as you probably know, is blessed at the very beginning of the Easter Vigil, before it is lit and processed into a completely dark Church as the minister cries out “The light of Christ!” and the people cry back “Thanks be to God!” There are a few symbols which, properly speaking, one should always find on the Easter candle (besides the “decorative stuff” that varies from candle to candle); unless you’ve taken a moment to look closely, perhaps you’ve never noticed these symbols!
First, there is always a cross, obviously symbolizing the glorious instrument by which Christ chose to destroy our death forever. As well, there is the Alpha and Omega (usually above and below the cross), representing Christ, who is the beginning and the end. You’ll also find, usually in the corners of the cross, the year of our Lord in which the candle is blessed. These symbols are traced by the priest before he blesses the candle, as he says the following words: “Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to Him and all the ages, to him be glory and power through every age for ever.”
Lastly, you’ll notice that the candle always has five “nails” stuck in it in five significant places on the cross: one at each point and one in the center. Each of these wax nails contains a grain of incense, and they represent the five wounds of Christ: the crown of thorns upon Christ’s head, the nails in His hands and feet, and the spear thrust into His heart. The priest inserts these grains of incense with the prayer, “By His holy and glorious wounds, may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us. Amen.”
As I’ve always said, there’s a reason for everything the Church does! These things might seem like “small potatoes,” but I love these little traditions that make our Church Catholic and which, if we know them and let them, speak to us the depth of the mysteries we live in these holy days!
Keep spreading joy!
Fr. Friedel
The feast of Divine Mercy is the Sunday following Easter Sunday. Jesus told Sister Faustina “On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are opened. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy… On that day, all the divine floodgates are opened. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary 699) This is an extraordinary promise. In fact, the grace of Divine Mercy Sunday has been compared to the grace of Baptism. It forgives all sins and provides for the removal of all punishment due to sin. What is required is receiving Holy Communion worthily with trust in Jesus’ promise.
Divine Mercy Novena
The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. Novena pamphlets are in the pews for your convenience. If you would like to join us, we will pray the Novena 12 minutes before the prayer service on Good Friday and Holy Saturday and before all the Masses on Easter Sunday
and at the daily Masses of Easter week.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will host a Divine Mercy Prayer Service on Sunday, April 12 at 2:00pm. The service will include Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All are welcome.
The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. Novena pamphlets are in the pews for your convenience. If you would like to join us, we will pray the Novena 12 minutes before the prayer service on Good Friday and Holy Saturday and before all the Masses on Easter Sunday
and at the daily Masses of Easter week.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will host a Divine Mercy Prayer Service on Sunday, April 12 at 2:00pm. The service will include Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All are welcome.
Life is more fun if you play games!
All ladies of the parish are invited to a
Game Night on Wednesday, April
15th. It will begin at 6:00pm in the
school cafeteria. We will start the
evening with a short 100 Years of
Blessed Sacrament Trivia
Game. Afterwards, we will break into
groups where experienced players
will teach various games or you can
bring a favorite of your own to share.
Come for a break from busy routines
to laugh, strategize, and build
memories with your parish family.
All ladies of the parish are invited to a
Game Night on Wednesday, April
15th. It will begin at 6:00pm in the
school cafeteria. We will start the
evening with a short 100 Years of
Blessed Sacrament Trivia
Game. Afterwards, we will break into
groups where experienced players
will teach various games or you can
bring a favorite of your own to share.
Come for a break from busy routines
to laugh, strategize, and build
memories with your parish family.
Join us on the evenings of June 23rd & 24th for family fun, food, and nostalgia at our 98th Annual Garden Party!
Reminisce on times past when a classic carnival theme intertwined with our faith community.
There will be something for everyone, including an evening of carnival rides, fair food, games, face painting, and live music! Bring the whole family to celebrate our wonderful parish and school.
Reminisce on times past when a classic carnival theme intertwined with our faith community.
There will be something for everyone, including an evening of carnival rides, fair food, games, face painting, and live music! Bring the whole family to celebrate our wonderful parish and school.
We are so exited to bring Summer Camp back to Blessed Sacrament School! Families can enroll for the whole summer (June 1 through July 31) or for individual weeks. This program is for students entering Preschool through students entering 5th grade in the 2026-2027 school year. Summer camp includes fun field trips, nutritional morning and afternoon snacks and theme weeks. Don’t forget! Vacation Bible School will take place June 22—26 and will be incorporated in to our Summer Camp curriculum. Camp hours are 7:45am to 5:00pm daily.
Mark your calendars! Vacation Bible School will return to Blessed Sacrament this summer. Join us June 22—26, 2026 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. All children entering Preschool through Fifth Grade are invited to join us for VBS.
Applications are now being accepted for the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) 2026 High School Girl Graduate Scholarship Program! Are you a practicing Catholic girl who is graduating from the 12th grade? If you attend a private or public school or are home schooled, you are eligible to apply! The SDCCW is pleased to award a $2,000 scholarship to 4 Catholic high school girls who are graduating. This money should be used to further your education in either a community college or university, technical/trade/vocational school, or other non-traditional option. Three required documents (application, essay, and letter of recommendation) must be received by April 15th and sent to Rita Devore, 1006 Shenandoah Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401. In addition, the application must be signed by your pastor. Copies may be found in your parish office OR downloaded on the right.
For further questions, please call Rita Devore at 217-821-7517. Thank you!
For further questions, please call Rita Devore at 217-821-7517. Thank you!
Would you prefer to read the actual bulletin online? Click on the button to the right for a virtual copy of this week's bulletin.
From other parishes...
Catholic Speed Dating
The Forge, Springfield’s Catholic Young Adult Group, is hosting a Speed Dating night on April 18th. It begins at 5:30pm in the Christ the King Parish Hall. (1930 Barberry Dr, Springfield, IL 62704)
Meet and mingle with Catholic singles (ages 21-39) in a casual and fun setting. We will have refreshments, a vocations talk by Fr. Daniel McGrath, a testimony talk by the Schlossers, & speed dating! Please RSVP using the QR code. You can find us on Instagram @TheForgeSpringfield, or email us with any questions: TheForgeSpringfield@gmail.com
The Forge, Springfield’s Catholic Young Adult Group, is hosting a Speed Dating night on April 18th. It begins at 5:30pm in the Christ the King Parish Hall. (1930 Barberry Dr, Springfield, IL 62704)
Meet and mingle with Catholic singles (ages 21-39) in a casual and fun setting. We will have refreshments, a vocations talk by Fr. Daniel McGrath, a testimony talk by the Schlossers, & speed dating! Please RSVP using the QR code. You can find us on Instagram @TheForgeSpringfield, or email us with any questions: TheForgeSpringfield@gmail.com
Marriage Enrichment Looking for an opportunity to enrich your marriage? Mercy Tree Adventures is providing a Delight and Desire one day retreat on Saturday, April 18. This event includes four talks and 2 fun -filled adventures guaranteed to provide you and your beloved an enjoyable time. Whether you are newly engaged, or married for 40+ years your time will be blessed! For more information click on the button below.
Blessed Sacrament will be offering VBS for kids ages Preschool through 5th grade in June, 2026 - but what about OLDER kids?
Sign up your child for Totus Tuus, popular weeklong summer program and will be held at other parishes in Springfield. Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, praying the Rosary, attending Mass, and praying at eucharistic adoration. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.
Teams of missionaries, comprised of college-aged students and several diocesan seminarians, will travel to a different parish each week, hosting the five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to daily prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, learning the Sacraments, and going to Mass. The missionaries also provide a witness to being an authentic disciple of Christ. The popular program sees hundreds of children participate every year in the diocese.
Note, grades 7-12 are from Sunday-Thursday each week and the program is in the evenings. For grades 1-6, the program is Monday-Friday each week and starts in the morning and finishes in the afternoon. Families will receive the specific start and end times later this spring through the parish communications.
June 14 – June 19
St. Katharine Drexel, Springfield
July 12 – July 17
Christ the King, Springfield
Sign up by going to dio.org/totus-tuus-camper-registration
Sign up your child for Totus Tuus, popular weeklong summer program and will be held at other parishes in Springfield. Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, praying the Rosary, attending Mass, and praying at eucharistic adoration. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.
Teams of missionaries, comprised of college-aged students and several diocesan seminarians, will travel to a different parish each week, hosting the five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to daily prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, learning the Sacraments, and going to Mass. The missionaries also provide a witness to being an authentic disciple of Christ. The popular program sees hundreds of children participate every year in the diocese.
Note, grades 7-12 are from Sunday-Thursday each week and the program is in the evenings. For grades 1-6, the program is Monday-Friday each week and starts in the morning and finishes in the afternoon. Families will receive the specific start and end times later this spring through the parish communications.
June 14 – June 19
St. Katharine Drexel, Springfield
July 12 – July 17
Christ the King, Springfield
Sign up by going to dio.org/totus-tuus-camper-registration
Attention all seniors...Senior Social
To help shake off the winter woolens and welcome spring you are invited to the launch of Senior Socials, a monthly event connecting area Catholic seniors . Come meet other retired/senior citizens for an afternoon of games, cards, conversation and snacks. We'll supply it all; you can just come as you are! Hope to see you on Wednesday, April 15, 3:00pm-5:00pm in the Cathedral Atrium. Please share this invitation with your senior friends and relatives.
To help shake off the winter woolens and welcome spring you are invited to the launch of Senior Socials, a monthly event connecting area Catholic seniors . Come meet other retired/senior citizens for an afternoon of games, cards, conversation and snacks. We'll supply it all; you can just come as you are! Hope to see you on Wednesday, April 15, 3:00pm-5:00pm in the Cathedral Atrium. Please share this invitation with your senior friends and relatives.
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE January 12-21, 2027
Join Fr. Dean Probst and Fr. Charles Delano on a trip to the Holy Land,visiting the area of the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Enjoy celebrating Masses and Prayer Services at the places of Jesus' birth, preaching, miracles and crucifixion and resurrection. Cost is $4099/person from St. Louis airport. Contact Fr. Dean at 217-494-6326 or email rdprobst@gmail.com for brochure.
Join Fr. Dean Probst and Fr. Charles Delano on a trip to the Holy Land,visiting the area of the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Enjoy celebrating Masses and Prayer Services at the places of Jesus' birth, preaching, miracles and crucifixion and resurrection. Cost is $4099/person from St. Louis airport. Contact Fr. Dean at 217-494-6326 or email rdprobst@gmail.com for brochure.
