Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Dear Friends in christ 

With Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord we begin Holy Week. Day-by-day we move with Jesus through the final days and hours of His life on earth: the days of our Redemption. I would like to remind us of the deep spiritual significance of these days ahead. On Palm Sunday we commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem; this is where He will accomplish those saving acts. On Wednesday evening at 7pm in Brentwood Cathedral, there will be the Mass of Chrism, during which the Holy Oils for use in the coming year are blessed; the Priests also renew their commitment to service in the Priesthood. On Thursday evening the Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper takes place in the church; at the start of the Mass the Oils blest the previous evening are processed-in and placed before the Altar. The celebrant, in imitation of the action of Jesus, washes twelve feet, reminding us of the ordination of the first priests of the Church (our young adults preparing for Confirmation participate in these actions). On Good Friday — a time of intense prayer and reflection — we go to Calvary to accompany Jesus in His death. Finally, on Holy Saturday evening after dark, we hold the Easter Vigil during which the Easter Candle is blessed, together with the water of the Font for Baptisms in the coming year. Four adults will be Received into Full Communion with the Church (there will be a couple of others Received later in Eastertide). All-in-all a full Week in which we endeavour to participate as fully as possibly, with hearts and minds, in all that is most sacred and important for us. May Mary, who accompanied Jesus throughout His life, and all the way to the Cross, help us to pray these days ahead, so that we can rejoice with her at the Resurrection!

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Priest@LourdesLeigh.org 01702 478078

The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast