Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will preside over Holy Week liturgies at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart as follows:
April 13 | Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Cardinal Tobin will preside at the noon Palm Sunday Mass. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. During Mass, Catholics will hear the gospel account of the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ. Blessed palm fronds, representing the palm branches, the crowds scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into the city, will be distributed.
April 14 | Chrism Mass | Mass of the Holy Oils
Cardinal Tobin will preside at the 8 p.m. Chrism Mass. Catholics will witness the blessing of the Chrism, a mixture of oil and balsam, or balm, used in archdiocesan parishes throughout the coming year for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, the anointing of the sick and to anoint newly ordained priests and deacons. Chrism also is used to bless altars and churches. After the Chrism Mass, representatives from each parish receive the newly blessed oils in the name of their communities. The Mass, celebrated annually in every diocese of the Universal Church, also calls on all clergy of the Archdiocese present to renew their promises of ordination. This Mass welcomes all those who share in church ministries, including those in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), baptism, and confirmation programs.
April 17 | Holy Thursday | Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Cardinal Tobin will preside at the bilingual 7:30 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which commemorates Christ’s washing of the feet and the Eucharist’s institution during the Last Supper. During this Mass, in imitation of Jesus’ humility and actions at the Last Supper, Cardinal Tobin will wash the feet of representatives of the Cathedral Basilica’s parish community. After Mass, the Cathedral Basilica’s sanctuary will be stripped of all décor, and the crucifix will be covered by purple cloth in preparation for the solemn Good Friday liturgy.
April 18 | Good Friday | Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Cardinal Tobin will preside at the 3 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion to commemorate Christ’s suffering and death through prayer, silence and Adoration of the Cross. A Spanish-language liturgy will then commence at 5 p.m., followed by a choral adaptation of the Stations of the Cross performed by the Cathedral Choir at 8 p.m.
April 19 | Holy Saturday | Easter Vigil
Cardinal Tobin will celebrate the bilingual Easter Vigil Mass beginning at 8:30 p.m. The Easter Vigil, which begins after nightfall, is the first and most important celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. At this liturgy, Catholics will celebrate the festival of light, symbolizing the Light of the Resurrection seen in the new fire, the Easter or Paschal candle lit within a darkened cathedral. The “Alleluia” will be praised for the first time since the start of Lent. New members of the Catholic Church — the OCIA catechumens — also will be welcomed into the faith at this Mass and will receive the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist and confirmation.
All Holy Week liturgies will be livestreamed through the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.newarkbasilica.org/holyweek.
TV CREWS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS:
Please note that television cameras are permitted inside the Cathedral Basilica. However, all television crews must obtain prior approval to access the Cathedral for Holy Week and Easter services by contacting the Office of Communications in advance.
Reporters and still photographers are allowed inside the Cathedral Basilica but are required to remain in the designated media areas. Additionally, all media personnel (including still photographers and video crews) must refrain from entering the center aisle and in front of the altar at any time. Additional guidelines pertaining to photography or videography during Mass are available online.
About the Archdiocese of Newark?
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics across northern New Jersey’s Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. Led by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, the Archdiocese includes 211 parishes, 67 Catholic schools, and numerous missions and ministries committed to faith, education, and social service. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.
