Cardinal Tobin: 'The great Christian week' underway with Palm Sunday

Parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark officially ushered in Holy Week with Palm Sunday Mass yesterday, marking the beginning of the Easter season. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and recounts the Lord’s death and triumphant resurrection in the story of the Passion.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the Archbishop of Newark, celebrates Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Left: Deacon Asterio Velasco, director of the Archdiocese’s Hispanic Ministry.

Palm Sunday is when, “amid chilly, showery days and nights, the Church marks the beginning of the great Christian week,” said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the Archbishop of Newark. “A new day dawning in our hearts and in our dreams.”

Cardinal Tobin celebrated an in-person Spanish-language Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. He began his homily by saying he was happy to see so many people gathered there.

The presence of the faithful in the pews is in stark contrast to one year ago when parishes were shuttered to the public because of the pandemic. And while the nation appears to be nearing the end of the pandemic, many social distancing precautions remain in effect during Mass.

Photo Courtesy of Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights, N.J.

Traditionally, Palm Sunday Mass begins with a procession and the blessing of palms in a reenactment of an extraordinary Gospel moment. This year a simpler entrance was used in order to prevent crowding. As is tradition, Palm branches were made available to the faithful, but were not to be handed out in person.

“I really enjoyed the whole liturgy,” Deacon Asterio said. “The atmosphere was not as joyful as maybe other years. It’s difficult for people to sing because they have masks on.”

Deacon Asterio Velasco, director of the Archdiocese’s Hispanic Ministry, who served at the Palm Sunday Mass with Cardinal Tobin, said it was a special ceremony that was well-attended thanks to the ability of the faithful to spread out in such a large space.

Deacon Asterio said he often associates Palm Sunday with the “joyful noise and singing” of the religious education children at St. Joseph & Michael Church in Union City, where he attends church. That tradition, like so many others this year, was put on pause.

“Even though there were a number of adaptations for Palm Sunday this year due to the current pandemic, it is a great blessing for us to be again able to celebrate it as a parish,” said Fr. Ivan Sciberras, pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Belleville.

In Teaneck at Saint Anastasia Church Palm Sunday weekend began with a retreat dedicated to Saint Joseph with the Hispanic community.

“We were blessed to enter into Holy Week by celebrating the sacrament of anointing of the sick and be reminded of the healing power of our Lord,” said Fr. Joseph D’Amico, the pastor of the parish.

Photo courtesy of St. Teresa of Avila in Summit, N.J.

Fr. Joseph said the one word he likes to use as a guide for Holy Week is, “accompany.”

“The nourishment and energy needed to accompany our Lord during Holy Week was given to us by reflecting on the life of Saint Joseph and receiving the beautiful sacrament of anointing,” he said. “Through our beautiful liturgies we will accompany Jesus up to Jerusalem and shout ‘hosanna!'”

Sr. Donna Ciangio, O.P., the Archdiocese’s Chancellor, was the lector at the Palm Sunday Vigil Mass at Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell. She was also one of the readers during the presentation of the Passion of Christ.

“I spoke with people who were genuinely happy to come to Palm Sunday liturgy,” Sr. Donna said. “Trees are beginning to blossom and parishioners said they felt about to blossom. There seemed to be a great sense of relief and hope that we could be together as a community to listen to the Word and celebrate the Eucharist.”

Photo courtesy of the Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff, N.J.

Fr. Tim Graff, director of the Archdiocese of Newark Social Concerns Office, celebrated Palm Sunday Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood. He said it was good to see families back at Mass that he hadn’t seen for almost a year.

“It makes for a very special Holy Week,” he said. “As people feel safer, it is so good to see them back at Mass. You could see their gratitude for being back in church and receiving the Eucharist after so many months.”

For more information regarding Holy Week, and livestream Masses with Cardinal Tobin, visit www.rcan.org.