Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday that takes place the Sunday before Easter, on March 23 this year. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem during Passover as described in the Holy Gospel. The apostles’ accounts tell us that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowds welcomed him by spreading palm branches on the road and shouting “Hosanna,” or “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, which includes several important events in the liturgical calendar, including the Last Supper, the crucifixion of Jesus, and his resurrection. During Mass on Palm Sunday, palms are given out to the congregation, and some Catholics shape their palm leaves into crosses as a traditional way of honoring Jesus’ sacrifice. The use of palm branches in the celebration symbolizes victory, triumph, and the crowd’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and King.
Around the Archdiocese of Newark, the faithful have been celebrating Palm Sunday with blessings of palm branches, processions, and Masses recalling Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, presided over the noon Palm Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes in Verona.
Cardinal Tobin speaks with parishioners after Palm Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes in Verona.Bishop Elias Lorenzo, O.S.B., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, celebrated Palm Sunday Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Union.Parishioners gathered for a procession outside of the church before Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scotch Plains.Father Ryan Dela Pena, pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Patrick Church in Elizabeth, blessed parishioners during Mass on Palm Sunday.At Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Patrick Church in Elizabeth, hundreds of parishioners gathered to celebrate Mass on Palm Sunday.At St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City, parishioners gathered outside the church for a procession and blessing of the palms on Palm Sunday.Families gathered at St. Anthony’s Church in Northvale to partake in a Palm Sunday procession outside the church. Children, dressed as clergy, along with volunteers, escorted the Cross through the streets, accompanied by a donkey and other farm animals.At St. Lucy’s Church in Newark, parishioners gathered outside of the church on Palm Sunday to have their palms blessed.Parishioners at St. Peter the Apostle Church in River Edge gathered for a procession and blessing of the palms before Mass on Palm Sunday.Youth parishioners lined up to pay homage to the Cross of Jesus during Palm Sunday Mass at The Church of St. Philomena in Livingston.Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Westfield experiences a beautiful Palm Sunday procession captured in moments of faith and community. (Photo Credit – Robert Kaplan)Parishioners had their palms blessed at St. Paul Church in Ramsey.
