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What is Holy Week?
Holy Week is an important time for Christians throughout the world. Holy Week, the final week of Lent, begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. Holy Week is a time when Catholics gather to remember and participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Passion was the final period of Christ’s life in Jerusalem. It spans from when He arrived in Jerusalem to when He was crucified.
How Do Catholics Celebrate Holy Week?
Four special ceremonies commemorate the events of Christ’s Passion from His entrance into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in His path, through His arrest on Holy Thursday and Crucifixion on Good Friday, to Holy Saturday, the day that Christ’s body lay in the tomb.
The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:
- Mass of the Lord’s Supper
- Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
- Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
PALM SUNDAY (28th March 2021)
Palm Sunday recalls Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem with a procession. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey to the praise of the townspeople who laid palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions we celebrate Palm Sunday this year with no great procession. However, Blessed Palm Branches from each of the Masses can be collected from the front door of the Presbytery for up to an hour after each scheduled Mass.
Holy Tuesday (31st March 2021)
This year on the morning of Holy Tuesday our Archbishop will celebrate the Mass of Chrism. Usually the entire diocese comes together, with the bishop, for the blessing of the Holy Oils to be used in the Sacraments throughout the year. We cannot do this this year so a special livestreamed Mass will be celebrated from Cardiff Cathedral by Archbishop George at 11.30am.
Holy (Maundy) Thursday (1st April 2021)
Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper, when Jesus consecrated bread and wine instituting the Holy Eucharist. Bread and wine transformed into His Body and Blood as “food for the journey”. We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.00pm.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions there will be no washing of the feet this year and the watching with the Lord will only be via our livestream.
Good Friday (2nd April 2021)
Good Friday covers Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial.
The events of Good Friday are commemorated in the Stations of the Cross, a 14-step devotion, traditionally prayed during Lent and especially on Good Friday.
We begin the day with the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer at 10.00am and follow the Stations of the Cross at 12 NOON.
The Solemn celebration of the Lord’s Passion takes place at 3.00pm. This year we ask those attending to bring a crucifix from home with them.
We complete the day at 7.00pm by walking the Stations of the Cross in reverse, recalling the events from Our Lady’s perspective.
Good Friday is a day of fasting within the Church. Church bells are silent. Altars are left bare. The solemn, muted atmosphere is preserved until the Easter Vigil.
Holy Saturday (3rd April 2021)
Holy Saturday remembers the day which Jesus spent in the grave resting.
This year we begin the day with Office of Readings and Morning Prayer at 10:00am.
St. Mary’s church will be open for private prayer from 11.00am-2.00pm.
The Easter Vigil takes place at the end of the day at 8:00 P.M. because the new liturgical day begins at sunset, the vigil begins at sunset on Holy Saturday outside the church, where an Easter fire is kindled and the Paschal candle is blessed and then lit. This Paschal candle will be used throughout the season of Easter, remaining in the sanctuary of the church and throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding all that Christ is our life and light.
After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the baptismal font is solemnly blessed and any catechumens and candidates for full communion are initiated into the church.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions there will be a number of changes to the Easter Vigil this year.
Booklets for Holy Week 2021 for use when joining us on livestream.
