Diocese of Arlington announces Holy Week schedule

March 31, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. - Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington will celebrate Holy Week Masses and other liturgies beginning with Palm Sunday on April 2 and culminating in the Easter Vigil Mass on April 8. Bishop Burbidge is available for interviews just prior to or just following these liturgies if scheduled ahead of time.

“During Holy Week, I call on all the faithful in the Diocese of Arlington to walk with Jesus through the solemn celebrations of his passion, death and resurrection. These holiest days of the year provide us with a blessed opportunity to unite our sufferings to Our Lord's and to journey with him on the path that leads to glory. May our voices be joined with those who, in Sacred Scripture, cry out, 'blessed is he,'” Bishop Burbidge said. 

“On Easter, we celebrate that the Risen Lord is the light of the world. Through his death and resurrection, we share in his victory over darkness, suffering and even death itself. As his faithful witnesses, we are sent forth to radiate his light to the world and all those we meet.”

Holy Week Masses & Liturgies, Celebrant, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

(Holy Week homilies will be posted to the diocesan website following the Masses.)

Mass of Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 2, 11 a.m.

On Palm Sunday, at the start of Holy Week, the Church recalls the triumphal entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. Just as the crowds laid branches on the road for Jesus to enter on when he arrived in Jerusalem, so too do we carry palm branches that remind us of his entrance into the city where he will redeem us by the shedding of his blood on the Cross.  

Chrism Mass -- All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas, Va.
Tuesday, April 4, 11 a.m. - livestream available here.

The Chrism Mass is the solemn liturgy at which Bishop Burbidge will consecrate the chrism ointment and bless the holy oils used for sacramental anointing in parishes across the Diocese. All diocesan priests attend and concelebrate the Mass, and during this liturgy they renew their priestly promises.

All Saints Catholic Church is the largest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Arlington.

Mass of the Lord's Supper
Thursday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.

During this Mass, which reminds Catholics of the Last Supper Jesus celebrated before he was crucified on Good Friday, Bishop Burbidge will wash the feet of seminarians, who represent the apostles Jesus ate with that night.

Passion of the Lord
Friday, April 7, 3 p.m.

Within the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the high point of the entire liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Passion of Our Lord on Good Friday. On this day, we remember the suffering and death of Our Lord on the Cross. Wherever possible, the Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord is celebrated at 3:00 p.m., the same time that Jesus breathed his last and died on the Cross.

Easter Vigil Mass
Saturday, April 8, 8:30 p.m.

The Easter Vigil Mass is a solemn liturgy during which Bishop Burbidge will welcome seven individuals into the church. They have completed their preparations through RCIA. Those who have been previously Baptized in another Christian faith will make a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church and received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Altogether, the Diocese will welcome more than 150 new Catholics into the faith in multiple parishes throughout the region.

Location

All liturgies, unless otherwise noted, will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA  22203.

For media interested in covering any of these Liturgies: Bishop Burbidge would be available for media interviews either before or afterward. Please contact Mary Shaffrey, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 703-841-2517 or Mary.Shaffrey@arlingtondiocese.org to coordinate.