Archdiocese Celebrates Holy Week 2015
On Sunday, March 29, Christians around the world will begin the observance of Holy Week, the final preparation for the celebration of Easter.
Here in the Archdiocese of Newark, the almost 1.5 million Catholics worshiping in the 219 Catholic parishes in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties will mark the days leading to Easter Sunday with a full range of liturgies – Mass, Stations of the Cross, prayer services and more.
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart – the Mother Church of the Archdiocese and seat of the Archbishop – will be the location for several important liturgies, as follows:
Palm Sunday, March 29
The Reverend Monsignor Michael A. Andreano, VG, Vicar General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese, will preside at and be the homilist of the Noon Mass of Palm Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. At this Mass, which commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, worshipers will hear the Gospel story of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. Afterward, they will receive palm fronds.
Chrism Mass, March 30
The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, will preside at and be the homilist of the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral Basilica. This Mass, which begins at 8 p.m., welcomes all those who share in church ministries, including RCIA, Baptism and Confirmation teams, ministers to the sick and those involved in the hospital apostolate.
The Chrism is a mixture of oil and balsam, or balm, used in diocesan parishes throughout the coming year for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Anointing of the Sick, and to anoint newly ordained priests and deacons. The Chrism is also used to bless altars and churches.
The Mass, celebrated annually in every diocese of the universal Church, also calls on the several hundred clergy of the Archdiocese present to renew their promises of ordination and for the faithful to witness the blessing of the sacred oils. At the conclusion of the Chrism Mass, representatives from each diocesan parish and institution receive the newly blessed Oil of the Sick, Oil of the Catechumens and Chrism in the name of their communities.
Holy Thursday, April 2
The Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark and Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, will celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica. During this Mass, in imitation of Christ’s actions at the Last Supper, the Bishop washes the feet of representatives of the Cathedral parish community.
Good Friday, April 3
The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark, will celebrate the annual Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m. This service includes the Veneration of the Cross. Rev. Nelson Oyola, parochial Vicar of St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish, West New York, will be the homilist.
At 5 p.m. The Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz and Rev. Guillermo Mora, parochial vicar of the Cathedral Basilica, will celebrate a Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in Spanish. An outdoor Procession and Stations of the Cross will follow this liturgy.
Earlier in the day on April 3, an ecumenical alliance will participate the fifth annual Way of the Cross for Human Rights through the streets of Newark. Beginning at the Federal Immigration Building at 10 a.m., the Way of the Cross will conclude with the last Station, the Resurrection, at approximately 1 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Holy Saturday, April 4
The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark, will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass beginning at 8 p.m. At this liturgy, Catholics will celebrate the festival of light, symbolizing the Light of the Resurrection seen in the new fire, the Easter Candle. New members of the Catholic Church from the Cathedral Basilica parish also will be welcomed into the faith at this Mass.
Easter Sunday, April 5
The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, will celebrate the Easter Sunday Mass at Noon in the Cathedral Basilica.