Holy Trinity Church celebrates Palm Sunday

Arrival of Altar Servers and the celebrant, Msgr Ong

Tawau : Holy Trinity Church marked the beginning of the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday at the Saturday Sunset mass, 16th April 2011. The same mass will also be celebrated on the following Sunday morning.

Francis Anthony and Imelda selling the liturgical booklets

Msgr Ong blessing the palm leaves

 

Parishioners assembled in front of the Parish Hall

Parishioners proceeding to the Church

The congregation assembled at the front porch of the parish hall where the palm branches were blessed by the celebrant Msgr. Nicholas Ong following which we made our procession to the main entrance of the church.

Msgr Ong celebrating the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday

In his homily, Msgr. Nicholas Ong asked the congregation to reflect on the importance and meaning of this Sunday's celebration.

 'Passion" is the Latin word for 'suffering" he said. "That is why Palm Sunday was called the Sunday of the Passion of Christ in Latin."

Touching on the Gospel reading of the mass, he said " we should look at the suffering and death of Jesus Christ as victory over sin and death. It is glory, salvation and resurrection that Christ has brought for us."

" Jesus who without sin took the place of Barabbas who (like everyone of us) committed sin, and was crucified so that we could all be saved through our baptism and the sacrament of reconciliation."

"At the death of Jesus, the Temple veil was torn in two. Thus from then on, God, unlike before, when the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice, is accessible to everyone of us at all times."

"The death of Jesus Christ" he continued, "had also prompted the Roman Centurion, a non Jew, to profess his faith that Jesus was indeed the Son of God."

Msgr. Ong also encouraged the parishioners to come to all the Triduum masses, starting with the evening mass of the Lord's supper on Holy Thursday right up till the Easter Sunday mass as they all form one big single celebration, not three.

Soccom

HTC Tawau.