HOLY WEEK

Commencing on Palm Sunday. 17th April 2011

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem
where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning
of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.

THE BLESSING OF THE PALMS

The Palm Sunday Service will begin with the Blessing of the Palms outside of the Church. The Palms will then be carried in procession into the
Church, during which the story will be read. If there cannot be a procession from outside of the Church, a Solemn Blessing will take place
within the Church. The hymns and Psalms are related to Christ the King.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is a manner of honouring the Holy Eucharist, by exposing It, with proper solemnity, to the view of
the faithful in order that they may pay their devotions before It.

PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,”
“...through the light has come into the world people have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were
sinful.” The Parish of Hythe has a penitential Service at 7pm on Holy Tuesday, where priests will be available to hear confessions.

SOLEMN MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Easter Triduum Begins. This Mass of the Lord’s supper is the oldest of the celebrations of Holy Week. It is this day we
commemorate the institution of three pillars of the Catholic Faith: the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the priesthood, and the Mass.
During the Last Supper, Christ blessed the bread and wine with the very words that are used today to consecrate the Body and Blood of
Christ during the Mass and the Divine Liturgy. In telling His disciples to, "do this in remembrance of Me," He instituted the Mass and
made them the first priests. .

WASHING OF THE FEET

An action of Christ at the Last Supper when he washed the feet of his disciples to teach them humility as a condition for the practice of
charity. As part of the liturgy on Holy Thursday, following the Homily of the Mass, modern popes have performed this ceremony in
St. Peter's, washing the feet of a certain number of poor men chosen to participate in the Maundy Thursday liturgy.

THE LORD’S PASSION

The Lord’s Passion on Good Friday is a sombre service that commemorates the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. Because it is considered a
continuation from the night before, the liturgy begins in silence. The Service beings with the Liturgy of the Word, which includes readings, a
psalm, and the account of the Passion and death of Jesus. During the Liturgy there are special prayers for all the people of the world.
Then follows the veneration of the cross, an ancient practice that allows each person to touch or kiss the instrument of torture that leads to
salvation. The third part of the liturgy is a Communion service. Afterwards the tabernacle is left empty and open, and the candle situated next to
the tabernacle, denoting the presence of Christ is extinguished.

EASTER VIGIL
The Vigil beings in silence with people waiting in darkness. The first part of the vigil is the light service, which begins outdoors with the Easter
fire and the lighting of the paschal candle. The candle is carried into the dark church as a symbol of the light of Christ, a powerful reminder that
Jesus is the light in the darkness. The individual candles, held by people in the pews are lit from the paschal candle. By the time the procession
reached the altar, the church is bathed in candlelight. The mystery and ritual of the Easter vigil touch the deepest part of people’s souls with ele-
ments of darkness, light, silence, music, fire, water and oil, along with bread and wine that become the body and blood of the risen Lord.

EASTER
For early Christians, the celebration of Masses on Easter morning developed as a way to accommodate people who were unable to attend the
Easter Vigil. Today, Easter Masses are joy-filled celebrations of the risen Lord with the singing of the Gloria and Alleluias, the renewal of baptis-
mal vows, and a sprinkling with Easter water. After sharing in the Eurcharist, people go forth strengthened in faith to serve the Lord and each
other. Easter marks the beginning of the Easter Season, which lasts fifty days and includes the celebration of Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of
the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.