This is the most important week in the year of worship. During the week, we commemorate Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection i.e., the crowing events in his life through which he saved us.

Holy week is the final week of lent, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. Holy week observances began in Jerusalem in the earliest days of the Church when devout people travelled to Jerusalem at Passover to re-enact the events of the week leading up to the resurrection.

Holy week consists of the following events which contributed to our liberation from sin.

1. Palm Sunday: This fall on the 6^th Sunday of lent i.e. the first day of Holy Week. On this day, we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. During the celebration, palms are blessed and are used in procession to remember Christ’ entry into Jerusalem amidst the shouts of Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna.

1. Holy Thursday: Holy Thursday also known as Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of Holy Week, commemorating the institution of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Priesthood. The evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday begins the “Triduum” which is the three-day celebration of the heart of the Christian faith, Christ’s death and resurrection. The name Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin “Mandatum Novum i.e. a new mandate. This new mandate from Christ is taken from Jn.13:34 “love one another as I have loved you”. During the celebration on Holy Thursday, we have;

• The washing of feet
• Transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose for adoration. We keep watch with Christ in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
• The altar is stripped or laid bare without any altar cloth. Crucifixes, crosses and statutes are removed from the church. Those that remain in the church are covered.

1. Good Friday: This is a day of fast and commemorating Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion and death. In the morning, the community gathers and goes through the Stations of the Cross. In the afternoon at 3pm (the time Christ likely died) the community gathers again. The afternoon celebration consist of three parts:

• The liturgy of the word
• Veneration of the Cross
• Communion service

This is the only day in the year when Mass is not celebrated.

1. Holy Saturday: This is the final day of the Holy Week and lent. It commemorates Jesus’ lying in the tomb until his resurrection, on Easter Sunday. On this day, the church keeps vigil, awaiting the resurrection of the Lord. The Vigil is arranged into four parts:

• The service of the light
• The liturgy of the word; when the church meditates on all the wonderful things God has done for her people from the beginning
• The liturgy of baptism; when new members of the church are reborn as the day of resurrection approaches.
• The liturgy of the Eucharist; when the whole church is called to the table which the Lord has prepared for his people through his death and resurrection.

My dear parishioners, the purpose of Holy Week is to re-enact and participate in the passion of Christ. This Week ought to be for us a holy week indeed, a great week. So much is going to depend for each one of us on the manner we celebrate this week. Participate fully, consciously, actively and reap the rich benefits of this Holy Season.