Holy Week – the week leading up to Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday – is filled with some of the most beautiful and powerful services in the liturgical year. Plan to attend these services that Bishop Michael Martin will be celebrating during his first Holy Week in our diocese or mark the celebrations in your own parish.
PALM SUNDAY MASS
April 13 – 11 a.m.
St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The blessing of the palms and an entry procession precede Mass, which includes the Passion gospel, which is read by multiple people.
CHRISM MASS
April 15 – 10 a.m.
St. Mark Church, Huntersville
This a special liturgy in which the oils used for sacraments throughout the year are blessed and hundreds of priests from 93 parishes across the diocese renew their promises to the Church and the bishop. Watch the livestream here.
HOLY THURSDAY
April 17 – 7 p.m.
St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates Jesus’ celebration of the Passover meal with His disciples, His washing of their feet, His agony in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His betrayal and arrest.
GOOD FRIDAY
Celebration of the Lord's Passion
April 18 – 3 p.m.
St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
Across the diocese, parishes commemorate the day Jesus died with by offering confession, Stations of the Cross, and Good Friday liturgies that included veneration of the cross and Passion plays
EASTER VIGIL MASS
April 19 – 8:30 p.m.
St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
The Easter Vigil opens with the blessing of the paschal fire and the lighting of the paschal candle, from which individual candles are lit. This powerful reminder that Jesus is the light in the darkness precedes the Mass, during which people coming into the church receive the sacraments of initiation, and the congregation renews baptismal vows.
EASTER SUNDAY MASS
April 20 – 9 a.m.
St. Mark Church, Huntersville
April 20 – 2 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Charlotte
Easter Sunday Masses are celebrations of the risen Lord during which the congregation renews their baptismal vows and joyfully sings the Gloria and alleluias that were omitted during Lent.