March 23, 2024

Holy Week offers a chance to ‘keep watch’ with Jesus leading up to Easter

REGIONAL
Staff report

St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke will hold a Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 29, at 12 p.m. (IObserve photo/courtesy of Deacon Jose Correa)

SPRINGFIELD – As the world prepares to enter into Holy Week, contemplating Christ’s suffering, death and ultimate victory on the cross, parishes across the Diocese of Springfield are offering many different Masses and services. The week begins with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

“Palm Sunday is the incredible celebration of when our Lord enters into Jerusalem. Everyone shouts, ‘hosanna, hosanna,’ only to turn on him, showing the fickleness of every human heart,” said Bishop William D. Byrne. “We need to stay praising the Lord each and every day, to thank him in good times and in bad, sickness and in health, and to recognize if we live close to him we can live for his glory and know true joy.”

Bishop Byrne will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield at 7 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration to follow. Most parishes will have Eucharistic Adoration after the Holy Thursday Mass. Several local groups will also make the Seven Church Pilgrimage, or Visita Iglesia. The tradition dates back to the early church when Christians visited the seven shrines connected with the Lord’s passion. For centuries pilgrims have continued the tradition visiting the seven basilicas in Rome as a form of penance.

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday.

“Holy Thursday’s focus is the Eucharist, Jesus giving of himself, body, blood, soul and divinity as truly present in every single Mass. So try your best to go to a Holy Thursday celebration of the Lord’s supper,” said Bishop Byrne. “But continue to renew yourself in the powerful gift of Jesus truly present for you at every Mass.”

The annual Pro-Life Stations of the Cross will be held on Good Friday in front of Planned Parenthood at 10 a.m.

On Good Friday, several churches will host living Stations of the Cross including St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke at 12 p.m.; Blessed Sacrament and All Souls Parishes in Springfield at 12 p.m.; St. Mary Parish in Westfield at 2 p.m.; and Holy Cross Parish in Springfield at 7 p.m.

Also on Good Friday, Bishop Byrne will join students from Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield for the annual Pro-Life Stations of the Cross outside of Planned Parenthood in Springfield. Typically, as many as 100 people attend to peacefully pray for an end to abortion and for the protection of all human life.

Bishop Byrne said Holy Week gives Catholics an opportunity to realize the depth of God’s love.

“We recognize how deeply loved we are: that God so loved the world that not only did he send his only begotten son, that son died for our sins so that we could be made whole,” he said.

A full listing of Mass times can be found here, on diospringfield.org.