Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, People of Saint Brigid Parish,

On this holy day, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we begin Holy Week. We celebrate the Lord’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Jesus is welcomed by the crowds who worshipped Him and placed palm branches in His path. Jesus comes as the King of Israel and the Son of David. Our liturgical celebration this day reflects this event and mystery. As early as the fourth century, Palm Sunday was marked in Jerusalem with a procession beginning at the Mount of the Ascension and proceeding to the Church of the Holy Cross. By the ninth century it became common practice throughout the Christian world to begin the celebration of this special day with the blessing of palms, which usually takes place outside of the church proper. The blessing ceremony includes the reading of the Gospel account of Jesus’ entrance into the holy city of Jerusalem. In our parish, the celebration of Palm Sunday begins inside the church with the blessing of palms and the procession. The proclamation of the Passion of Our Lord during the Mass calls us to enter deeply into the events of Holy Week.

Another significant liturgy during Holy Week is the Chrism Mass. This Mass is celebrated at the cathedral church where the bishop, with his presbyterate, manifest the communion of their priesthood. The holy oils used in parishes throughout the year are blessed for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday is the memorial of the Lord’s Passover. Under sacramental signs He inaugurated for us the sacrifice of the New Law. This beautiful liturgy commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of sacramental priesthood, and the commandments of brotherly love, and service that Jesus gave to His disciples after the washing of their feet. The Lord’s Supper ends with the removal of the Body of Christ from the tabernacle. The Eucharist is carried in solemn procession to the place of adoration where, after the liturgy, we are invited to stop, pray and remain with the Lord just as the disciples did during His agony on the Mount of Olives.

On Good Friday we commemorate the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. From the earliest days of Christianity, no Mass has been celebrated on this day; instead, a special liturgy which includes the proclamation of the Passion according to the Gospel of John, a series of intercessory prayers, and the veneration of the Cross takes place. The Good Friday liturgy concludes with the distribution of Holy Communion. Good Friday is a day of strict fasting and abstinence.

On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb in prayer and fasting, meditating on His Passion and Death and on His Descent into Hell while awaiting His Resurrection. The Church also refrains from the Sacrifice of the Mass during the day on Holy Saturday, anticipating the joy of Easter. On Holy Saturday we also bless baskets of food which will be shared on the feast of Easter, soon to come.

The celebration of the Paschal Vigil on Saturday evening begins the celebration of Easter. Jesus rose from the tomb at some point between Saturday sunset and Sunday sunrise. The Easter Vigil is the longest and most solemn liturgical service of the Church year. It consists of four parts: the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

Easter Sunday, which follows Holy Week, is the great feast day and apogee of the Christian liturgical year. On this day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Come and celebrate this holiest week of the year with your faith community, most especially the Paschal Triduum ceremonies: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Paschal Vigil on Saturday evening.

May God bless you!