Friday of Holy Week has traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday. On this day the Church commemorates the crucifixion, suffering, death, and burial of Jesus. It is the most solemn day in the liturgical calendar. 

 

Mass isn't offered on Good Friday. The traditional Catholic service for Good Friday was held in the mid-afternoon to correspond to the final words of Jesus from the cross (around 3p.m., Matt 27:46-50). Modern schedules have led many churches to move the service to the evening to allow more people to participate.  

 

When possible, Catholics take a break from work between the hours of noon and 3 p.m., the time Jesus spent on the cross.  It is appropriate to observe a period of silence for reflection. Each Good Friday we observe a period of silence at St. John Paul II Catholic School. Everyone attends the Passion Play put on by our sixth grade classes at 1:30 p.m. and spends the remainder of the day including dismissal in silence. The teachers plan age appropriate tasks for the children during this time such as devotional reading, journaling, private prayer, or even coloring a religious picture for the younger children.