Palm Sunday or the Passion of the Lord begins the Holy Week. On that day, we commemorate the triumphal entry of Christ the Lord to Jerusalem. Crowds of people welcome Jesus as the Messiah and King who through the Paschal Mystery will inaugurate the new kingdom of God. The procession with palms symbolizes our following Christ the King, so that along with Him, through His passion and cross, we will enter the glory of the resurrection.
At the John Paul II Foundation Home in Lublin, the Palm Sunday had a festive character. Participants of the liturgy gathered in the lobby to have their palms blessed and then, to enter the chapel in the procession. The Mass was celebrated by the director of the Home, Fr. Jan Strzałka, who in his homily pointed out the unique character of the Holy Week, especially the Easter Triduum. The priest emphasized that this is the time of re-experiencing the saving secrets that require each of us to provide answer through our personal involvement. Jesus came into the world to save every man and each of us receives this unique grace from Him.
In the liturgy, scholarship recipients were involved by reading the Passion of Christ, playing organ and violin and singing in the choir. Most of them will spend Easter with their families and parish communities in Belarus and Ukraine. Others, from other countries, such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Indonesia, will stay in Poland. We are already sending our wishes to all “Happy Hallelujah!”
Text: Fr. Robert Ptak
Photo: A. Papliouka
