Holy Week has started with the celebration of Palm Sunday Masses across the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Bernard Longley was principal celebrant at today’s 11.30am Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral (Sunday 10 April 2022).

It began outside, by the entrance to the crypt, with prayer, the reading of St Luke’s Gospel 19:28-40 and the blessing of palms.

A procession into the cathedral followed led by the choir and involving seminarians from St Mary’s College, Oscott, altar servers, clergy and parishioners.

Passion Sunday, or Palm Sunday as many people commonly know it, marks the beginning of Holy Week, a day we commemorate the triumphant arrival of Christ into Jerusalem just days before the crucifixion.

The Liturgical colour of the Palm Sunday Mass is red, symbolising the redemption in blood that Christ paid for the world.

Palms blessed on Palm Sunday are used in the procession of the day, then taken home by the faithful and used for personal devotion.

Read Archbishop Bernard's Homily

A Guide to Holy Week from the Bishops’ Conference