Holy Week services set at St. Columba

Staff report

youngstown

Palm Sunday services start off Holy Week at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St. Masses will be at 5:30 p.m. today with the Rev. Edward Brienz, St. Columba associate pastor, presiding. On Sunday, Monsignor Peter Polando, cathedral rector, will officiate at 10:30 a.m. and Bishop George V. Murry at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, about 1,000 people representing the 87 parishes, the schools and mission of the six-county Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will demonstrate the unity of the diocesan Church when they gather at the cathedral for the Mass of Holy Chrism at 10:30 a.m. Bishop Murry will be principal celebrant. Priests concelebrating in the sanctuary will include diocesan consultors and deans.

Each parish is invited to bring a banner to be carried in procession at the opening of the celebration and which will be displayed during the Mass. The Chrism Mass focuses on the annual renewal of the diocesan and religious priests in their commitment to priestly service.

There will be the consecration of the Sacred Chrism and blessing of the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. Each pastor will receive Sacred Chrism and the other Holy Oils for use in their parish.

The Ecumenical Television Channel, through the services of the Catholic Television Network of Youngstown, will air the Chrism Mass at 8 p.m. Tuesday and noon Wednesday.

On Holy Thursday, there will be Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 6 p.m. with Monsignor Polando. The cathedral will remain open until 9 p.m. for veneration of the Blessed Sacrament. Security will be provided.

On Good Friday, Bishop Murry will preside at the Passion of the Lord and veneration of the cross service at 3 p.m. The annual collection for the Holy Land, which helps preserve the holy places of Christ’s homeland and helps alleviate suffering of the poor of every faith in the Holy Land, will take place.

On Holy Saturday, the blessing of the Easter Food will be at 4 p.m. and the Easter vigil at 8 p.m. with Bishop Murry.

Easter Sunday Masses will be at 10:30 a.m. with Father Brienz and at 12:30 p.m. with Monsignor Polando officiating and the Cathedral Choir directed by Dr. Daniel Laginya. There is no 4 p.m. Mass.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. A communal reconciliation service will be at 7 p.m. Monday.