Come Experience Tenebrae: A Candlelit Prayer Service at St. Luke’s on Wednesday April 1, 2026 at 8p.

Step into the quiet beauty of Holy Week with Tenebrae, an ancient prayer service of the Catholic Church that helps us reflect on the final hours of Jesus Christ.

During the service, candles are gradually extinguished as Scripture is read, and the church slowly grows darker—inviting us to sit with sorrow, silence, and hope.

What to Expect at Tenebrae

If you’ve never attended Tenebrae before, here’s what you’ll experience:

• A dim, candlelit church

• The service begins in soft light and gradually grows darker.

• 14 Scripture readings and psalms

• The prayer service usually lasts between 60-90 minutes

• These readings tell the story of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

• Moments of silence

• There is space to sit quietly and reflect.

• A loud sound at the end. This symbolizes the chaos of the moment of Jesus’ death.

• A final candle of hope Even in darkness, one light remains—reminding us that hope is not lost.

• You are welcome to simply sit, listen, and observe.

Whether you come with a deep faith, curiosity, or simply a desire for a reflective experience, you are invited to join and sit with the story as it unfolds. Come and experience the beauty of prayer, silence, and light in the darkness.