GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Holy Week begins this weekend with Palm Sunday, as the Lenten season comes to a close.
Bishop David Walkowiak with the Diocese of Grand Rapids will celebrate the liturgies. of Holy Week and Easter at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 215 Sheldon Blvd SE. The public is invited to participate. Similar Masses will take place in parishes throughout the diocese.
Livestreams of all liturgies, except the Easter Vigil, will be available on the Diocese of Grand Rapids website, grdiocese.org and the diocesan Facebook page (Diocese of Grand Rapids).
Below is the Cathedral liturgy schedule:
- Sunday, April 2, at 10 a.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palms before him.
- Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate chrism Mass. At this Mass, the bishop consecrates the holy chrism and blesses the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. Chrism is used throughout the year in the celebration of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and at the ordination Masses celebrated at the cathedral. During this Mass, the priests of the Diocese of Grand Rapids also publicly renew their commitment to serve. This is a ticketed Mass and is not open to the public.
- Holy Thursday, April 6, at 7 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper. During this Mass, the bishop will commemorate Christ’s washing the feet of his twelve apostles at the Last Supper by washing the feet of members of the parish.
- Good Friday, April 7, at 3 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will begin the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the time of suffering leading up to and including Christ’s death on the cross. This liturgy includes prayers, the Scriptural proclamation of Christ’s Passion and veneration of the cross.
- Holy Saturday, April 8, at 9 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will preside at the Easter Vigil. Parish communities throughout the diocese, including the cathedral, will welcome new members during this Mass. Across the diocese, 126 catechumens and 180 candidates will be welcomed into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Catechumens will receive baptism, first holy Communion and confirmation at the Easter vigil. Candidates are already baptized and will receive one or both of the other two sacraments of initiation.
- Easter, April 9, at 10 a.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The Easter celebration is the principal feast of the Catholic Church year; the cornerstone upon which our faith is built and the oldest feast of the Christian Church.