Vespers - Sundays at 3:30 p.m. in the church. Vespers is part of the Divine Office. In praying the Divine Office, the Church fulfills Jesus' command to "pray always" (Luke 18:1; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Through this prayer, the people of God sanctify the day by continual praise of God and prayers of intercession for the needs of the world. The Divine Office includes several specified times of prayer. The most important times, called the "hinge hours," are Lauds (which takes place upon rising) and Vespers (which takes place as dusk begins to fall). The other hours are the Matins (a service with a biblical reading and a reading from the Fathers or Church writers or a reading related to a saint which may take place at any time of day), the "little hours" (which may take place at Midmorning, Midday, or Midafternoon), and Compline (said before going to sleep). Bishops, priests, deacons, and many men and women in consecrated life pray the Divine Office each day. Their work is organized around this prayer, keeping God always at the center of their days. Lay people are encouraged to pray the Divine Office as well, especially Lauds and Vespers. Many parishes in the United States schedule communal Lauds and Vespers on a regular basis. Holy Family will now offer Vespers every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. I hope you can come to praise God!