With Palm Sunday, nearly 300 parishes in the Archdiocese of New York will kick off today the Catholic Church’s most important days of observance to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus, which falls on Easter Sunday, April 9. .
At least 2.5 million New York parishioners are preparing to live Holy Week and Easter this year to be fulfilled from this Sunday, April 2 to 9, and the area parishes have left everything ready to carry out the so-called Greater Week.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish of The Bronx has been busy preparing to support its community of around 1,800 families of primarily Latino, Spanish-speaking and African parishioners for Holy Week and Easter 2023.
Father José Cruz has led his parish, located near Yankee Stadium, for more than two years and boasts a vibrant community with a particular growth in African Catholics recently. According to Father Cruz, the parish has been incorporating programs to welcome new members into the community, and for several months some of them have been training to participate in the live processions that will be dramatized on Good Friday.
increase in parishioners
“I attribute all of this enthusiasm to the fact that the parish has experienced a parishioner surge in recent months, which I attribute to the fact that we have survived the pandemic, even though the virus is still with us,” he said in a statement. “There is even greater sensitivity now, and we have understood that our human relationships are essential and our communication with God is vital.”
The priest expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming events, noting that parishioners have been actively involved in organizing and running them. “Our community has shown great creativity and devotion in preparing for Holy Week,” he added. These same preparations are underway in parishes that serve all kinds of communities and people.
As an example of other Catholic communities, the Parroquia del Padre Cruz will be the center of numerous post-pandemic family gatherings, showing the creativity and devotion of parishioners in organizing live dramatized processions, vigils, visits to monuments until midnight and concerts. with religious and sacred music.
Hours may vary
While times may vary from parish to parish, a Mass in Spanish will be celebrated today at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm. In observance of Palm Sunday, attendees will receive blessed palms to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Starting tomorrow (Monday) the dioceses of New York, Brooklyn and Rockville Center will offer the sacrament of confession in all their parishes from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. No appointment is required to receive this sacrament during Holy Week.
On Tuesday, April 4, all are invited to the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral which will be presided over by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Among those in attendance at the ceremony will be auxiliary bishops and all clergy serving in the Archdiocese, as well as delegations. This mass is a special occasion during Holy Week in which the oils used to anoint the sick, the newly baptized, and newly ordained priests are blessed. The ceremony will be at 4:00 pm
traditional procession
On Friday, April 7, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish will offer a silent prayer for the faithful from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm.
At 12:00 pm the same day, members of the community will enact the Passion of the Christ on the streets of the Bronx in a procession expected to draw nearly 1,000 worshippers. The procession will depart from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish at 1253 Shakespeare Avenue and will pass through several streets in Salsa County. On Easter Sunday, April 9, Masses will return to their regular schedule.
Procession Route
Meeting Point: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (1253 Shakespeare Avenue, The Bronx, NY) at 11:30 am • Towards 168th Street to Nelson Avenue • From Nelson Avenue to 164th Street • Woodycrest and St. 164 • From 164th street to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.
To learn more about your local parish activities, visit https://archny.org/parish-finder/