Saturday 12th - Sunday 20th April 2025
- bostallpark
- Apr 11
- 7 min read
PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION– CYCLE C
SUNDAY 13TH APRIL 2025
What is Palm Sunday? - Every day of Holy Week is one step on a spiritual pilgrimage, and Palm Sunday is the day that pilgrimage begins. Palm Sunday takes place one week before Easter and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Catholics carry blessed palm branches into church, symbolizing the crowd's welcoming gesture as Jesus rode into the city on a donkey. The Gospel readings recount the story of Jesus' death and Passion, inviting us to reflect on his sacrificial love and the profound significance of Holy Week. You can reflect on this passage by reading the Gospel of Mark Chapter 11, verses 1-11.
How to Observe Palm Sunday - Celebrating Palm Sunday begins with a uniquely powerful experience of Mass. This particular Mass includes two incredible readings from the Gospels. As Mass begins, we hear the account of Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem on a donkey and being praised by massive crowds. It is a special opportunity to begin a spiritual pilgrimage toward Easter. Then, during the Liturgy of the Word, we dive into the entire Passion account. Many parishes present this account in an interactive format: the priest reads Jesus’ lines, lectors narrate and read the parts of many characters, and everyone in the pews reads the part of the crowd. As you listen, place yourself there in the story. Imagine the sights and sounds. Who do you resonate with? What words or phrases stick out to you? It is a particularly long reading, so try to focus on the one thing God is trying to say to you. At Palm Sunday Mass, you’ll also receive blessed palm branches. Many people keep these palm branches all year, using them as a religious decoration in their home or weaving them into a cross shape. Since palm branches are a blessed item, they should not be thrown in the trash. If you do not want to keep your branch, you can return it to the church where it will be burned for ashes the following Ash Wednesday!
What is Holy Thursday? -What did Jesus do on his final night on earth? The Gospels are aligned. Jesus gathered together his closest friends for the Last Supper. Holy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum, the most sacred days of the Catholic faith. It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, commemorating the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and his disciples on the Jewish holiday of Passover. It’s not a Holy Day of Obligation, but many Catholics attend Mass. During this Mass, the priest washes the feet of some members of the parish in memory of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. But perhaps the most significant thing that happened on Holy Thursday was that Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist….For over two thousand years, Catholics have taken Jesus at his word and obeyed the command he gave on his final night through the sacred ritual of the Mass. You can reflect further on Holy Thursday by reading Luke 22:14–16; 19-20 & Luke 22:39-46.
How to Observe Holy Thursday - Since it's the anniversary of the Last Supper, Holy Thursday is the perfect time to attend Mass. Some Catholics follow a beautiful tradition after Mass where they visit Jesus in the Eucharist at seven different churches in their area. Another way to celebrate Holy Thursday is to attend Adoration and spend time meditating on the gift of the Eucharist. Jesus has given himself completely to you. Will you give yourself to him?
Why is it called Good Friday? - Good Friday is the day Jesus was tortured, mocked, crucified, and died. It was a day of incredible suffering and hatred—so why do we call it Good Friday? We call it Good Friday because the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus saved us from our sins. And even though it was an incredibly tragic day, it was one of the greatest days in history...As it says in Isaiah, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”…Separated from Jesus, our pain and suffering become meaningless, and that is why life is so depressing for so many in a world that has rejected God and the idea that suffering has value. Willing sacrifice out of love is a path most people have never tried. And it is a path that is essential if we are going to find our way back to thriving in this world. You can reflect more on Good Friday by reading Luke 23:26-47.
How to Observe Good Friday - One powerful way to remember Good Friday is by maintaining silence throughout the day, especially between 12 pm and 3 pm (when Jesus was on the Cross). Although there is no Mass, many people still visit their church to attend a Stations of the Cross service. You could also spend time meditating on the Passion of Jesus by reading the Passion accounts in the Gospel or watching a movie adaptation like The Passion of the Christ.
(Source: passim - www.dynamiccatholic.com)
HOLY WEEK NOTICES.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS.
On Good Friday at 10.30am lead by our Confirmation candidates and First Holy Communion children.
EASTER OFFERINGS.
Parishioners are reminded that you’re Easter offerings are your gift to the parish Priest.
HOLY WEEK SERVICES.
HOLY THURSDAY MASS: 7.30PM
GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS: 10.30AM
GOOD FRIDAY MASS: 3.00PM
EASTER VIGIL MASS: 8.00PM
PARISH NOTICES.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR HOLY WEEK
