Newark, N.J. – On Sunday, March 29, the Archdiocese of Newark will join the Universal Church as Catholics and other Christians observe Holy Week, the most sacred week of the year, beginning with Palm Sunday and culminating in the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will preside over Holy Week liturgies at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark as follows:

March 29 | Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Cardinal Tobin will lead the 12:30 p.m. Palm Sunday Mass, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. The Gospel account of Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion will be read, and blessed palm fronds—symbolizing the branches scattered before Jesus—will be distributed.

March 30 | Chrism Mass | Mass of the Holy Oils
Cardinal Tobin will preside over the 8 p.m. Chrism Mass. The Mass includes the blessing of the Chrism, a mixture of oil and balsam used throughout the Archdiocese for the sacraments of baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and ordinations. Chrism also is used to bless altars and churches. At the conclusion of the Chrism Mass, parish representatives receive the newly blessed oils on behalf of their communities. Additionally, clergy of the Archdiocese will renew their ordination promises, and those involved in ministries, including the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), baptism and Confirmation programs, will be welcomed.

April 2 | Holy Thursday | Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Cardinal Tobin will preside over the bilingual 7:30 p.m. Mass, commemorating Christ’s washing of the feet and the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. During this Mass, in imitation of Jesus, Cardinal Tobin will wash the feet of representatives from the parish community. After Mass, the Cathedral Basilica’s sanctuary will be cleared of décor, and the crucifix will be veiled in purple cloth in preparation for Good Friday.

April 3 | Good Friday | Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Cardinal Tobin will lead the 3 p.m. Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion to commemorate Christ’s suffering and death through prayer, silence and Adoration of the Cross. A Spanish-language liturgy will then commence at 5 p.m., and the Cathedral Choir will perform a choral Stations of the Cross at 8 p.m.

April 4 | Holy Saturday | Easter Vigil
Cardinal Tobin will celebrate the bilingual Easter Vigil Mass at 8:30 p.m. The vigil, which begins after nightfall, is the first and most important celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. Catholics will celebrate the festival of light, symbolized by the new fire and the Easter or Paschal candle lit in a darkened cathedral. The “Alleluia” will be sung for the first time since the start of Lent, and new members of the Church—OCIA catechumens—will be welcomed into the faith and receive baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

April 5 | Easter Sunday | Resurrection of Our Lord
Cardinal Tobin will celebrate the 10 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass in Spanish. This Mass follows the traditional Easter liturgy and does not include the solemn ceremonies of the Easter Vigil. However, each service commemorates the miracle of Christ’s Resurrection. Therefore, Catholics are not obligated to attend both services.

All Holy Week liturgies will be livestreamed on the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.newarkbasilica.org/holyweek.

About the Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics across northern New Jersey’s Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Led by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, the Archdiocese includes 211 parishes, 64 Catholic schools, the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, St. Andrew’s Hall College Seminary, Redemptoris Mater Seminary and numerous missions and ministries dedicated to faith, education and social service. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Journalists are permitted inside the Cathedral Basilica for Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, but they must obtain prior approval from the Office of Communications. Television reporters and still photographers may remain in designated media areas and must not enter the center aisle or approach the altar at any time. Additional photography and videography guidelines are available online.

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