On Palm Sunday in most parishes in this country and in many countries throughout the world, palm branches are still a large part of the liturgical celebrations. The palm branches are blessed and distributed to the assembly. Often the entire assembly processes into the church holding palm branches and welcoming Jesus with the words "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord." (Luke 19:38)


Holy Week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday and includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Passion, or Palm, Sunday is a celebration in which Jesus triumphantly returns to Jerusalem. Holy Thursday commemorates the first Eucharist, when Jesus gave his Body and Blood to his Apostles. Good Friday is the day on which we remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. On Holy Saturday we feel the true absence of Jesus and anticipate the Lord. We remember Jesus' body, bound and placed within the tomb. Holy Saturday involves morning prayer, and catechumens engage in prayer and fasting as they await their acceptance into the Church later that evening. After sundown at the Easter Vigil, the Church celebrates the baptism and confirmation of catechumens, initiating them into the Church and transforming them from unbelief to belief, from darkness to light. Now they are visible signs of Jesus.

Family Activity

Make a "Helping" collage. Using pictures from magazines, cut out pictures that show people helping others. Paste these together as a collage on a large sheet of construction paper or cardboard. Add the title "Helping," and display in your home as examples of people to model. If you have a lot of family pictures, you could consider making copies of them and creating your own "Family Helping" collage to proudly display.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Holy Week or Teacher—Holy Week for Liturgy.