Palm Sunday (or Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion), is the final Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with a procession, blessing of palms, and the reading of the Passion narrative. The liturgy highlights both the welcoming “Hosanna” and the betrayal of Christ.
Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil, March 28, 5 PM Sunday, March 29, 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM (SP), 5:30 PM
Key Details Regarding Palm Sunday:
Liturgy & Rituals: The Mass begins with the blessing of palm branches and a procession, recalling Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.
Significance: It is known as “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion,” bridging the joy of his entry with the suffering of his upcoming crucifixion.
Readings: The Gospel reading often focuses on the Passion (e.g., Matthew, Mark, or Luke depending on the liturgical year).
Symbols & Color: Red vestments are worn to symbolize the blood of Christ.
Palms: The blessed palms are often kept by the faithful and, in some traditions, burned to make the ashes for the following year’s Ash Wednesday.
Please join us in the celebration of the Triduum Liturgies:
Chrism Mass, Monday, March 30, 11:00 AM at Holy Family Parish, 5125 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando.
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Thursday, April 2, 7:00 PM (Bilingual)- in the Parish Life Center. Adoration and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament – 8:30 PM to 11 PM (NO 9:15 AM Daily Mass, no Confessions today)
Good Friday – April 3, (NO 9:15 AM Daily Mass or First Friday Adoration today/ Chapel opens at 12 noon) The Passion of Our Lord and Adoration of the Cross, Friday, 3:00 p.m. (Bilingual
Via Crucis en Vivo – (Bilingual) The Way of the Cross – Friday, April 3, at 6:30 PM Outdoors on the Parish Campus
Blessing of Easter Food at 9 AM, Saturday, April 4 EasterVigil in the Holy Night of Easter, Saturday, April 4, 8:30 PM
The Resurrection of the Lord- Easter Sunday- April 5th
6 AM Sunrise Mass – OUTDOOR MASS – Courtyard (Bring your own chair)
8 AM in the Parish Life Center
9:30 AM OUTDOOR MASS – Courtyard (Bring your own chair)
11:00 AM in the Parish Life Center – NO INCENSE AT MASS
1:00 PM in the Parish Life Center (Spanish)
Christ Speaks from the Cross: The 7 Last Words in English
Join us for this presentation and reflection that unpacks Jesus’ seven last phrases spoken from the cross. From Calvary, Jesus delivered the ultimate sermon of sermons, giving us powerful messages of Eternal Love and Hope. The 7 Last Words of Christ are deeply moving messages of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, suffering, distress, triumph, and reunion that will change your life. Discover the profound meaning behind Jesus’ final spoken words as we enter Holy Week and prepare our hearts for Easter.
Join us at 7 pm in the Parish Life Center on Monday, March 30th, as we enter Holy Week with our eyes upon Christ and the Cross. You can purchase the book at the event.
Las últimas siete palabras de nuestro Señor Jesús– En español
Join us on Wednesday, April 1st at 7 pm in the Parish Life Center for this moving recount of the Last Seven Words of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This event will be in Spanish.
When Jesus was on the cross, he spoke seven phrases of great meaning for those who contemplate his passion and death. Today, we recall his Seven Last Words, which have been widely used in sermons in observance of Good Friday. The tradition began in the 17th century by a Jesuit priest in Peru named Francisco Del Castillo. He developed a meditation service based on the last words of Jesus, and the devotion spread around the world. The last words of Jesus, as they appear in the Gospel, became part of the church’s Lenten tradition. These often include music, prayers, or reflections.
Cuando Jesús estaba en la cruz, pronunció siete frases de gran significado para aquellos que contemplan su pasión y muerte. Hoy, recordamos sus Últimas Siete Palabras, las cuales han sido muy usadas en los sermones de Viernes Santo.La tradición comenzó en el siglo XVII por un Sacerdote Jesuita en Perú, de nombre Francisco Del Castillo. Él, desarrolló un servicio de meditaciones basado en las últimas palabras de Jesús y en la devoción se difundío alrededor del mundo. Las últimas palabras de Jesús, tal como aparecen en el Evangelio, se volvieron parte de la tradición cuaresmal de la iglesia. Estas, a menudo, incluye música, rezos o reflexiones.
El Via Crucis en Vivo – The Way of the Cross
Join us on Good Friday, April 3rd at 6:30 pm for our Bilingual Living Station of the Cross, as we relive the Passion of our Lord Jesus and we share in His suffering. Share with us these impactful reflections narrated by our parishioners.
Acompáñenos a recordar la Pasión de Jesús y compartir con Nuestro Señor todos sus sufrimientos. Comparta con nosotros estas impactantes reflexiones narradas por miembros de nuestra parroquia.
Veiling of statues and crosses
The custom of veiling the images during the last two weeks of Lent hails from the former liturgical calendar in which the Passion was read on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (hence called “Passion Sunday”). For this reason, the period following the Fifth Sunday of Lent was called Passiontide. A remnant of this custom is the obligatory use of the first Preface of the Lord’s Passion instead of the Preface of Lent during the Fifth Week of Lent. In the Roman Missal for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, we find the instruction, “In the Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from [the fifth] Sunday [of Lent] may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”
The veiling is a visual reminder that something different and important is about to happen, signaling the shift in focus to Christ’s Passion, suffering, and death. By temporarily veiling the cross and statues, the faithful are encouraged to focus inward and reflect more deeply on the darkness and somberness of the final days of Lent, during which the focus is on Christ’s suffering and death. The absence of the familiar images can intensify our senses and create a greater awareness of Christ’s absence during his suffering and burial.
The Triduum
What is the Triduum?
The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
The liturgical celebrations that take place during the Triduum are:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper- Holy Thursday Mass
The Passion of the Lord and Veneration of the Cross- Good Friday
Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord- EASTER
For more answers on the Sacred Paschal Triduum, please CLICK HERE
The tradition of blessing the food for Easter returns on Holy Saturday, April 4th. Join us on the Front Porch at 9 am to have your Easter meal blessed.
According to custom, food may be blessed before Easter Sunday morning for consumption at the first meal of Easter, when fasting is ended, and the Church is filled with joy. Praise the Lord for all His blessings!
Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Sacrament of Penance — Go to Confession during this Lent and experience the gift of God’s boundless mercy.
Lectio Divina for Lent — Mediate on God’s Word with Lectio Divina guides for the Sundays of Lent that focus on themes of the Jubilee of Mercy and can be used by individuals or in group settings.
What is Lent?
Lent, Fasting, & Abstinence
Fasting is to be observed by all 18 years of age and older, who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient o maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and juices, are allowed.
Abstinence is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence, no meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. When in doubt concerning fast and abstinence, the parish priest should be consulted.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are the three traditional disciplines of Lent. The faithful and catechumens should undertake these practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism or of renewal of baptism at Easter.
