Holy Week begins with Passion Sunday and includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Passion Sunday, 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 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.



The Church is quiet as it recalls Jesus’ trials of Good Friday, and hopeful as it looks forward to the joys of the Easter Vigil. The Vigil celebration progresses from darkness to light, from silence to song, mirroring Jesus’ passage from death to new life. The Church celebrates the saving plan revealed on that first Easter Sunday when Jesus triumphed over death.

Family Activity

	This activity enhances the experience of Holy Week and familiarity with Easter symbols.

	•		Review the various Easter symbols of the Church. Provide family members with hard-boiled eggs and markers. Have them decorate their eggs with words and symbols that tell about Jesus’ Resurrection.
	•		Display the children’s eggs until Easter.

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