Palm Sunday 2016 - Ceremony and Mass

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The gospels record the arrival of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street and shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to honor him as their long-awaited Messiah and King. In the simplest of terms, Palm Sunday is an occasion for reflecting on the final week of Jesus' life. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection. The parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer Parish observed the same on the 20^th of March 2016. The ceremony of blessing the palm began at 7.00A.M in the Church grounds, where devotees assembled in large numbers.  The parishioners then participated in the procession and the mass that followed in the Most Holy Redeemer Church.Rev Fr Vincent Menezes was the main celebrant of the Mass; the co-celebrants being Rev.Fr Anil Lobo and Fr Walter. The entire mass was solemnized by the Children’s Choir. The Palm Sunday Eucharistic celebration was then concluded with the hymn "Kursa tain havn patyeni dovartan".

Report by: Lynsha Martis
Pictures: Simon Pereira