St Mary's Cathedral Celebrates Palm Sunday

The Palm Sunday Procession to the Cathedral

Sandakan : On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year preceding Easter.

Bishop Julius blessing the palm leaves

Bishop Julius presided over the Holy Mass of Passion Sunday on 16th April 2011 at St Mary's Cathedral. The congregation of more than 600 people assembled in front of the Parish Hall for the blessing of palm leaves and the Gospel reading of the entrance into Jerusalem taken from Matthew 21 : 1 - 11 followed by procession to the Cathedral.

L-R : Dalius and Suzanna Cardova proclaiming the 1st and 2nd reading respectively

Bishop Julius in his homily

The prelate, in his homily talked on the sufferings of Jesus both physical and psychological, an ordeal He went through as a human person for our redemption. In the midst of pain inflicted through barbaric torture, He prayed and forgave His enemies. It is on the Cross that He fulfilled His Father's will and mission.

He went on to say that the Liturgy of Palm Sunday is closely related to the celebration of World Youth Day (WYD) where   young people throughout the world go to meet Jesus. They accompany Him on His triumphant entry into Jerusalem so that He will be among us to establish peace, opposing violence and to bring about reconciliation. The Parish Youth Apostolate in communion with the other youth throughout the world will hold its activity in conjunction with WYD on Sunday 17th April 2011

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He quoted the Pope's message saying that, 'The Cross is the centre of World Youth Day and it is the Lord's supreme expression of love and the source of  which eternal light flows. He called on the people to embrace the Cross of Christ as the source of new life.'

He called on the people that in order to encounter Jesus. we need to solemnly walk His way to discover the deeper meaning of Holy Week.

Fr Phillip Muji blessing the palm leaves

This morning, Sunday 17th April 2011, the Bahasa Malaysia Mass of Palm Sunday at St Mary's Cathedral, attended by  more than 1,000 faithful  was presided over by Fr Phillip Muji, the assistant rector of the Cathedral.

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