Palm Sunday celebrated to start Holy Week

By PETER ESILA
HOLY week is an important time for Christians throughout the world, and it begins with Palm Sunday, a week before Easter.
Catholic parishioners of the St Joseph’s Parish in Port Moresby began the week yesterday – Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday.
The morning service was led by Fr John Curtis.
“We begin the Holy Week with mixed feelings of rejoicing and also to mourn in the celebration of our Lord’s Pascal Mystery in His Passion and Resurrection,” Fr John said.
“Holy Week, the final week of Lent, is a time when we gather to remember and participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ.”
Palm Sunday recalls Jesus’ arrival in 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.
“We too are encouraged to wave our palm branches with joyful and loving hearts as we welcome Jesus into our hearts,” Fr John said.
“Holy Thursday remembers how Jesus gathered to celebrate the Passover meal with His disciples, during which he instituted the Eucharist, giving body and blood for us,” he said.
“During this meal, He washed the feet of the disciples thus instructing us to show the same humility and outreach to all.”
Good Friday begins with Stations of the Cross in the morning and the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion in the afternoon.
“We re-live the Passion of Jesus from His betrayal, denial, desertion, arrest, trial and scourging to His crucifixion.”
Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil begins with the Easter fire and the Paschal Candle being lit and the Light of Christ being brought into the darkened church.
“We will hear the story of God’s love for us through the scriptures, and celebrate the new life we are offered through baptism and the sprinkling of the Easter water and receive the healing and peace of the Risen Lord through Holy communion, which will continue through Easter Sunday masses.”