Holy Week, the most solemn period in the liturgical year, begins on Palm Sunday, March 28, and concludes with Easter Sunday, April 4.
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, will have the traditional Holy Week liturgies. However, seating is limited because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The cathedral is at 1007 Superior Ave., in downtown Cleveland.
Tickets are required for the March 30 Chrism Mass. Face masks are mandatory for all attendees at all liturgies and social distancing will be observed.
Liturgies to be livestreamed are Palm Sunday Mass, the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Mass. The livestream can be viewed on the diocesan website.
- Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, 10:30 a.m. March 28 – Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic. He also will be the homilist. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the proclamation of the Passion, which also marks the beginning of Holy Week.
- The Chrism Mass, 7 p.m. March 30 – Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist of this annual liturgy during which he will bless the oil of the catechumens and the oil of the sick, as well as consecrating the sacred chrism. These holy oils are used throughout the diocese for the coming year in the celebration of the sacraments. Tickets are required for this Mass.
- Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m. April 1 – Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist at this liturgy, which commemorates the Last Supper, during which Jesus instituted the sacrament of the holy Eucharist, the sacrament of holy orders and gave us his commandment to love one another.
- Good Friday, Passion of Our Lord, 3 p.m. April 2 – Bishop Malesic will be the presider and homilist at the solemn liturgy commemorating the Lord’s Passion and death, The traditional adoration of the cross will take place during this liturgy.
- Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil, 8:30 p.m. April 3 – Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist at this liturgy, which includes the service of light, liturgy of the word, liturgy of baptism and liturgy of the Eucharist. After a reflective and intense period of prayer during Lent, the elect (those who have not been baptized) and candidates (those who will make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church and receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist) will become full members of the Catholic Church. These sacraments of initiation are celebrated at parishes throughout the diocese this night.
- Easter Sunday, Resurrection of the Lord, 8 a.m. April 4 – Bishop Malesic will be the celebrant and homilist at this Mass, which is offered as a joyful sacrifice of praise to God the Father, who raised his son, Jesus, from the dead.