What: Holy Week and Easter Celebrations

When: April 10-April 16

Where: Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 Fifth Avenue, St. Petersburg

Watch: www.dosp.org/livestream, www.facebook.com/DioStPete and www.youtube.com/dioceseofstpete

Listen: Spirit FM 90.5

Schedule of Holy Week Celebrations with Bishop Parkes:

Sunday, April 10, 2022, Palm Sunday Mass, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, Chrism Mass, 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 14, 2022, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 15, 2022, Good Friday Passion of the Lord, 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 16, Easter Vigil Mass, 8:00 p.m.

Bishop Parkes urges the faithful to stay focused on the holiest week of the Church’s calendar.  “Take time to walk with our Lord and draw closer to Him through participation in the various liturgies of this week,” said Bishop Parkes.

Below is a brief explanation of the Holy Week Liturgies:

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, when Christians commemorate the triumphant arrival of Christ into Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. This commemoration, with the blessing of palms, marks our own entry into Holy Week. The reading of the Passion Narrative, recalling Jesus’ crucifixion and death, also takes place on this day.

Participants receive palms to take home which can be displayed as a reminder of Holy Week. The palms are sacramentals, objects blessed by a priest that are meant to draw us closer to God. To properly dispose of these blessed palms, we are asked to burn or bury them.

Chrism Mass

Bishop Gregory Parkes consecrates the Sacred Chrism Oil that will be used during thousands of Baptisms and Confirmations throughout the coming year in local parishes. The bishop will also bless the Oil of Catechumen that is reserved for adults preparing to be baptized and the Oil of the Sick, that is reserved for those who are seriously ill. Priests will also renew their commitment to priestly service. Also, 16 priests will be acknowledged for their years of priestly ministry.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

At this Mass, we recall when Jesus gathered with his disciples, established the Sacrament of Holy Communion and instituted the priesthood. By washing the feet of his disciples, he demonstrated love, service, and humility. In the Sacred Triduum, the Church celebrates the greatest mysteries of our redemption, keeping by means of special celebrations the memorial of her Lord, crucified, buried and risen (RM: Thursday of the Lord’s Supper #1).

Passion of the Lord

The commemoration of our Lord’s Passion is also known as Good Friday, a day of fasting and a day to recall the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Veneration of the Cross highlights the Good Friday liturgy. The cross is solemnly unveiled and venerated by the people. Solemn hymns are sung and chanted throughout the veneration period.

Easter Vigil of the Resurrection of the Lord

The Easter Vigil is the first Mass of the Solemnity of Easter, the joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. During the Easter Vigil, individuals who have been preparing to become Catholic will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at their home parishes. At the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, Bishop Parkes will confer these Sacraments upon those who have stated their desire to become Catholic and have prepared according to the teachings of the Church. The candles, lit from the Easter candle, signify that Christ has enlightened the world and through Christ, the baptized are “the light of the world.”

About the Diocese of St. Petersburg

The Diocese of St. Petersburg is comprised of nearly 500,000 Catholics, more than 300,000 of whom are registered, within the five counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. It includes 75 parishes, 4 missions, 46 schools and early childhood centers, and a variety of social service, health care, housing, and pastoral ministries. Mass is celebrated regularly in 13 languages, and we are led by Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, who was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese on January 4, 2017.