Posted April 22, 2014

Holy Week began with Palm Sunday Mass April 13 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The Mass commemorated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the proclamation of the Passion. During the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass April 17 at the cathedral, Archbishop Charles Chaput blessed the holy oils that will be used throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia during the coming year. Later that evening the archbishop celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorating Christ’s institution of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The archbishop also washed the feet of seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. On Good Friday, Catholics gathered at Annunciation Parish in South Philadelphia to process through the streets reenacting the Lord’s passion and death. The Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night, April 19, celebrated the resurrection of the Lord at Holy Trinity Church in Morrisville, Bucks County. The faithful at Immaculate Conception Church in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, celebrated the resurrection the following morning on Easter Sunday, when they also renewed their baptismal vows. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Michael Justo from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Philadelphia attended Palm Sunday Mass with his family where he had his palm cross blessed.

  • Archbishop Charles Chaput blesses palms to be used during Palm Sunday Mass and distributed to people afterward.

  • Archbishop Charles Chaput washes the feet of seminarians during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, in imitation of Christ who washed the feet of his apostles at the Last Supper.

  • Maria Van Wollen helps her son Nicholas sing along during Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

  • Jose Miguel Amaras portrays Jesus dying on the cross during a reenactment of the passion and death of Jesus Christ which took place on Good Friday. Parishioners and volunteer actors walked through South Philadelphia stopping for prayers at each station and ending on the church steps of Annunciation Parish.

  • The community of Annunciation Parish gathers around the solemn scene depicting Jesus, portrayed by Jose Miguel Almaras, dying on the cross on Good Friday. Redemptorist Father Bruce Lewandowski incenses the scene at left.

  • Parishioners listen to the Word of God proclaimed during the Liturgy of the Word during the Easter Vigil Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Morrisville, Bucks County.

  • Altar servers Hallie Gallagher and Olivia Dees help participants in the Easter Vigil Mass light their candles from the paschal candle, leading the procession in Holy Trinity Church.

  • Holy Trinity Church in Morrisville, Bucks County.

  • Msgr. David Diamond blesses the people of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jenkintown with holy water after they renewed their baptismal promises on Easter Sunday.

  • Archbishop Chaput mixes fragrant balsam into the oil of sacred chrism on Holy Thursday.

  • Priest from all over the archdiocese renew their priestly vows during the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.