Religious Education & Faith Life

Holy Week

Next week is Holy Week. Holy Week is the most important week for Christians when they remember the events leading

up to the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus.

The Church sets apart an entire week to recall the events of the last week of Jesus’ life. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday.

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, Christians remember the day Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem. As Jesus entered the city, people greeted him by waving palm branches and calling out Hosanna.

Every Palm Sunday, Catholics bless palms at Mass and take them home to remember that day.

Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, Christians remember the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. During the Last Supper Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to teach them to show love for

others.

Good Friday

On Good Friday, Christians remember that Jesus suffered and was made to carry his cross up the hill where he was nailed to it.

On Good Friday, the Church gathers to kneel at the cross of Jesus to pay honour to it. The Cross is inseparable from the sacrifice of Jesus, in honouring the Cross people are honouring Jesus

who died to bring new life.

Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday, the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. The altar is left bare and Mass is not celebrated. Every Holy Saturday, the Church has a quiet day. No Masses or Sacraments are celebrated on that day. People pray quietly remembering the body in the tomb.

Easter Vigil

Celebrated on Holy Saturday evening is the dramatic Easter Vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. It is the highlight of the Church’s year and the main Mass of Easter. Everything that Jesus said and did is only given meaning by his resurrection. The lighting of the Easter candle in a dark church symbolises that Jesus is the light of the world. That light is passed from one person to the next, the candles of all in the church are lit and the entire church is lit up by candlelight.

During the Easter Vigil people listen to many readings from the Bible to hear about the relationship between God and people. People are often baptised during the Easter Vigil, and all the faithful renew their baptismal vows. The Eucharist is then celebrated with a great sense of joy because of everything that Jesus has given people.