ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT;
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
28 Mar 2012
For the past week the marble statues inside St Mary's Cathedral have been covered in purple cloth. It is customary in the lead up to Holy Week which begins on Sunday, 1 April when faithful around the world gather in churches and Cathedrals to commemorate Palm Sunday and the Lord's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.
The tradition of covering statues and precious artworks is to enable the faithful to pray without distraction in the days before and during Holy Week or Passion Week as it is also known.
The most important time on the Christian Calendar, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday when Christ, riding on the back of a donkey, was greeted by an exuberant crowd waving palm fronds as he entered the ancient city of Jerusalem. But the joy at Our Lord's arrival was short-lived and was followed by His betrayal and arrest. Next came His terrible suffering, His crucifixion outside the city's walls, and then three days later, His glorious resurrection.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell will preside over the Palm Sunday celebrations at St Mary's Cathedral. The Cathedral Choir will also be part of the Mass which begins with the Blessing of the Palms at 10.15 am. His Eminence will then lead a procession from the Hyde Park west door of the Cathedral alongside the Cathedral, up the steps and through the main doors at the southern end, after which he will celebrate Solemn High Mass.
At 5 pm, the same day, Solemn Vespers and Benediction will be held at the Cathedral. This will be followed by a Youth Mass at 6 pm which will also mark the 27th anniversary of World Youth Day (WYD) which was created by Blessed John Paul II and held in Rome for the first time back in 1985.
WYD is celebrated by young people across the globe on Palm Sunday each year with an international gathering of the world's youth taking place at different cities every three years.
Sydney hosted an international WYD in 2008. Last year WYD was held in Madrid and in a break with tradition, will be held in Rio de Janeiro next year, 2013. The gap of two years rather than the normal three between the international gathering of young people was chosen in order to avoid a clash with the 2014 FIFA World Cup which is also set to be held in Rio.
The final day of Lent is Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday as it is often known. This year Holy Thursday falls on 5 April and is the day faithful around the world commemorate the three pillars of the Catholic faith: the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Priesthood and the Mass. Holy Thursday also marks the start of the Easter Triduum.
His Eminence, Cardinal Pell will celebrate the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral at 10.35 am on Holy Thursday. This important Mass is when priests from dioceses in cities and towns across the globe gather with their bishop to consecrate the Holy Oils to be used throughout the upcoming year for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.
Cardinal Pell will also celebrate Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper which will be held at the Cathedral at 6.30 pm. Traditionally held after sundown, this Mass commemorates the Institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and recalls the Last Supper of Our Lord.
It was at this final supper, Christ after being betrayed, offered His Body and Blood to God the Father, under the species of bread and wine, which He gave to the Apostles as spiritual nourishment, commanding them and their successors in the priesthood to perpetuate this offering.
At the Mass of the Last Supper it is traditional for the bishop or archbishop celebrating the Mass to wash the feet of 12 priests to symbolise Christ's washing of the feet of His Apostles. As the Mass ends, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to the Altar of Repose where it remains until the communion service the following day, Good Friday.
Holy Thursday will conclude with night prayer, compline, at 9 pm when the faithful will be joined by the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral.'
As happens each year on Good Friday, prayer will begin with the Stations of the Cross at 10 am followed by a Celebration of the Passion of the Lord celebrated by Cardinal Pell at the Cathedral at 3 pm.
The Holy Triduum continues on Easter Saturday, 7 April with the moving Service of Light and Easter Vigil celebrated by the Cardinal at 7 pm at St Mary's Cathedral.
The Easter fast, begun on Good Friday and carried out for two days of this sacred time, finally ends on Sunday 8 April with the Resurrection of Our Lord and Easter Sunday's joyous celebrations.
At the Cathedral the statues are once again uncovered, the altar no longer bare and the entire Cathedral filled with flowers as St Mary's bells ring out across the city.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell will celebrate Solemn Mass on Easter Sunday at 10.30 am. Easter Sunday at the Cathedral will also include a Mass at 7.00 am, 9.00 am to be followed by Solemn Vespers & Benediction at 5 pm and Mass at 6 pm.
SOURCE : ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
28 Mar 2012
Across the world young people re-enact the Stations
of the Cross on Good Friday
of the Cross on Good Friday
The tradition of covering statues and precious artworks is to enable the faithful to pray without distraction in the days before and during Holy Week or Passion Week as it is also known.
The most important time on the Christian Calendar, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday when Christ, riding on the back of a donkey, was greeted by an exuberant crowd waving palm fronds as he entered the ancient city of Jerusalem. But the joy at Our Lord's arrival was short-lived and was followed by His betrayal and arrest. Next came His terrible suffering, His crucifixion outside the city's walls, and then three days later, His glorious resurrection.
Cardinal George Pell
At 5 pm, the same day, Solemn Vespers and Benediction will be held at the Cathedral. This will be followed by a Youth Mass at 6 pm which will also mark the 27th anniversary of World Youth Day (WYD) which was created by Blessed John Paul II and held in Rome for the first time back in 1985.
WYD is celebrated by young people across the globe on Palm Sunday each year with an international gathering of the world's youth taking place at different cities every three years.
Pope Benedict XVI at Palm Sunday Procession
in Rome last year
in Rome last year
The final day of Lent is Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday as it is often known. This year Holy Thursday falls on 5 April and is the day faithful around the world commemorate the three pillars of the Catholic faith: the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Priesthood and the Mass. Holy Thursday also marks the start of the Easter Triduum.
His Eminence, Cardinal Pell will celebrate the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral at 10.35 am on Holy Thursday. This important Mass is when priests from dioceses in cities and towns across the globe gather with their bishop to consecrate the Holy Oils to be used throughout the upcoming year for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.
Cardinal Pell will also celebrate Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper which will be held at the Cathedral at 6.30 pm. Traditionally held after sundown, this Mass commemorates the Institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and recalls the Last Supper of Our Lord.
Palm Sunday on the Mt of Olives
At the Mass of the Last Supper it is traditional for the bishop or archbishop celebrating the Mass to wash the feet of 12 priests to symbolise Christ's washing of the feet of His Apostles. As the Mass ends, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to the Altar of Repose where it remains until the communion service the following day, Good Friday.
Holy Thursday will conclude with night prayer, compline, at 9 pm when the faithful will be joined by the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral.'
Stations of the Cross re-enacted
WYD Sydney 2008
WYD Sydney 2008
The Holy Triduum continues on Easter Saturday, 7 April with the moving Service of Light and Easter Vigil celebrated by the Cardinal at 7 pm at St Mary's Cathedral.
The Easter fast, begun on Good Friday and carried out for two days of this sacred time, finally ends on Sunday 8 April with the Resurrection of Our Lord and Easter Sunday's joyous celebrations.
At the Cathedral the statues are once again uncovered, the altar no longer bare and the entire Cathedral filled with flowers as St Mary's bells ring out across the city.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell will celebrate Solemn Mass on Easter Sunday at 10.30 am. Easter Sunday at the Cathedral will also include a Mass at 7.00 am, 9.00 am to be followed by Solemn Vespers & Benediction at 5 pm and Mass at 6 pm.
SOURCE : ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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