Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D., Bishop of Camden, will preside at Holy Week and Easter liturgies and services:
Passion (Palm) Sunday opens Holy Week, the most solemn week in the Church’s liturgical year. On this day, the Church celebrates Jesus entrance into the city of Jerusalem. Palms are blessed and distributed to the faithful and the Passion is read at all Masses.
At the Chrism Mass, which the bishop concelebrates with the priests of the diocese, the Holy Chrism is consecrated and oils blessed. The Chrism Mass manifests the communion of the priests with the bishop in the same priesthood and ministry of Jesus. The faithful of the diocese are also encouraged to participate in this Mass and to receive the Eucharist. “Chrism” derived from “Christ” means “the anointed of the Lord.” The Chrism Mass is celebrated in dioceses throughout the world, usually on Holy Thursday morning. It is held on Tuesday in the Camden Diocese to encourage wide attendance by parishioners and parish priests who will travel across the diocese to join the celebration.
This Mass commemorates the institution of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders, and the washing of the feet of the Apostles by Jesus at the Last Supper. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil). Following Mass, there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to a place of reposition for adoration by the faithful.
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Good Friday, the second day of the Easter Triduum, includes the commemoration of the Passion and death of Jesus with the reading of the Passion, special intercessions, veneration of the Cross, and a Communion service. In accord with the ancient tradition of the Church, Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday.
The Easter Vigil
At this Mass, adult catechumens (those preparing for Baptism and reception into the Church) will receive the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist) during the liturgy. In addition, the Easter Vigil liturgy includes the blessing of the new fire, the procession with the Easter Candle, the proclamation of Old and New Testament readings (commemorating the whole of the history of salvation), the Litany of Saints, blessing of water, the renewal of baptismal promises and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
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The Diocese of Camden, established in 1937, serves 500,000 Catholics in 124 parishes in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.