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Holy Week and Easter celebrations with Bishop Gregory Parkes can be viewed via Livestream, Sunday, April 5 – Saturday, April 12, 2020. These celebrations will be streamed from the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg on our website and on Facebook. They will also air on Spirit FM 90.5. The Easter Sunday Mass also will be broadcast live on Fox 13, WTVT. We hope you will pray with us!

Schedule of Holy Week Celebrations with Bishop Parkes:

Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 7, Chrism Mass, 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 9, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 10, Passion of the Lord, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, 10:00 a.m. – Broadcast Live on Fox 13

Many local parishes are live streaming Holy Week celebrations. A listing of these parishes can be found here: www.CatholicMassOnline.org.

An Announcement Regarding Easter and Holy Week from Diocese of St. Petersburg on Vimeo.

Explanation of Holy Week Liturgies:

Chrism Mass: Bishop Parkes will consecrate the Sacred Chrism Oil that will be used during thousands of Baptisms and Confirmations throughout the coming year in local parishes. He will also bless the Oil of Catechumens that is reserved for adults preparing to be baptized and the Oil of the Sick, that is reserved for those who are seriously ill. After the Mass, the Holy Oils are brought back to local churches.

Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. The reading of the Passion Narrative, recalling Jesus’ crucifixion and death, also takes place on this day. 

Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood and his mandate to serve, as expressed in the Washing of the Feet.

Passion of the Lord
Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by nearly all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Easter is the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. There are 50 days of Easter from the first Sunday to Pentecost. It is characterized, above all, by the joy of glorified life and the victory over death, expressed most fully in the great resounding cry of the Christian:  Alleluia!