CHICAGO (March 19, 2005) – Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, will participate in the following Holy Week activities at Chicago area parishes and celebrate the following Holy Week liturgies at Holy Name Cathedral, State and Superior streets (all events described below will be held at Holy Name Cathedral unless otherwise noted):
Sunday March 20
11 a.m.
BLESSING OF PALMS/PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY MASS
Cardinal George will bless palm leaves in a solemn ceremony in the Cathedral courtyard immediately before Mass. The blessing symbolizes victory through the disciplines of Lent over all that keeps us from being fully Christian. During Mass, the Passion of Our Lord – the story of the suffering and death of Jesus – is read.
Tuesday March 22
PONTIFICAL MASS OF THE CHRISM
2:30 p.m.
Cardinal George will bless the oils to be used by all archdiocesan parishes for baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and anointing of the sick for the upcoming year. Two parishioners from each of the 374 archdiocesan parishes are expected to attend the Chrism Mass to receive the oils for their parish. Cardinal George will celebrate this Mass with the auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese.
Wednesday March 23
7:30 p.m.
TENEBRAE SERVICES
Cardinal George will be the celebrant during Tenebrae (darkness) prayer services
at Holy Name Cathedral. During the service, the lights of the Cathedral are extinguished, signifying the suffering of Christ that will be commemorated later in the week during the Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies.
Thursday March 24
5:15 p.m.
HOLY THURSDAY EVENING MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPERCardinal George will wash the feet of 12 Cathedral parishioners, recalling a similar action by Christ at the Last Supper.
Friday March 25
11:30 a.m.
VIA CRUCIS VIVIENTE (Living Way of the Cross) - St. Adalbert Church
Cardinal George will join the parishioners of Catholic parishes in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 1650 W. 17 th St., to mark the end of the Via Crucis (Living Way of the Cross) observance.
5:15 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY OF THE LORD’S PASSION & DEATH
Cardinal George will preside at a solemn commemorative service (there are no Masses offered in the Catholic Church on Good Friday ) during which the Passion according to St. John will be sung. The cross will be venerated (the faithful will kiss the corpus of a large crucifix); prayers will be offered for the Church and for all people; and a Communion service will follow.
Saturday March 26
BLESSING OF FOOD BASKETS – St. Priscilla and St. Rosalie Parishes
Cardinal George will bless baskets of food at two Chicago-area parishes that will be used by parish families in the preparation of Easter dinner:
11 a.m.
St. Priscilla Catholic Church, 6949 W. Addison St., Chicago;
1 p.m.
St. Rosalie Catholic Church, 4401 N. Oak Park Ave., Harwood Heights.
7:30 p.m.
EASTER VIGIL MASS/WELCOME OF NEW ADULT MEMBERS
Cardinal George will celebrate the Mass at which the New Fire and the Paschal Candle, representing the risen Christ, will be lighted.
- More than 500 adu lts will be baptized, more than 600 adults will be received into full communion with the Catholic Church and more than 700 adults will complete the sacraments of initiation (be confirmed and receive the Eucharist) this night in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Sunday March 27
11 a.m.
EASTER SUNDAY MASS
Cardinal George will be the principal celebrant and will deliver the homily at the Mass where Catholics celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
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