The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist community in Paterson on April 13 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, the main celebrant and homilist of a Spanish Mass on Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday commemorates the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as Savior and King. As Jesus rode a donkey into the town, a large crowd gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road, giving Jesus royal treatment. The people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” For the Mass, the congregation at St. John’s, the mother church of the Paterson Diocese, received and held blessed palm branches to mark the observance.
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Bishop Sweeney blessed the palm branches of the faithful outside the cathedral before processing into St. John’s for the Mass. Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, concelebrated the liturgy with the bishop. Father Jared Brogan, diocesan Divine Worship Office director, and Father Starli J. Castanos, a cathedral parochial vicar, were masters of ceremonies. Deacon Guido Pedraza assisted with the Mass.
St. John’s Children’s Choir led worshippers in hymns of praise that afternoon.
BEACON PHOTOS | JENNIFER MAHON
