Palm Sunday 2007

How was your Palm Sunday? I had a wonderful experience, celebrating Our Lord's Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I attended 3 Masses, the anticipatory one on Saturday evening, the principal Mass on Sunday Morning and another on Sunday evening. The turnout at all 3 Masses were great!

In these days of a shortage of priests, my parish had the privilege of having a total of 4 different priests celebrating the 3 Masses for us including Fr. Marshall Fernandez, our parish priest, Fr. Mark Michael, his assistant, Fr. Gerard Theraviam, Professor of Sacred Scripture at the seminary and Fr. Ross, the Australian Air Force Chaplain stationed here in Penang.

Here's some photos I took of the 3 Masses.

The Saturday Evening Mass

The Shrine where the blessing was supposed to take place.

I led the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary and the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help before Mass. The usual Benediction was cancelled because of the Procession. But because of the rain, which had actually already stopped by the time the Novena was over, the procession was cancelled and we made a less solemn gathering at the doors of the Church for the reading of the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem and the blessing of the Palms.

The people gathered under the Church porch and Fr. Marshall (aka Gandalf the Black), the main celebrant, then read out the Luke's account of the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. Fr. Ross and the servers, suitably vested in cassocks and red cape, surrounded him.

Fr. Marshall, assisted by Fr. Ross, then blessed the palms which the people help up as the people of Jerusalem did 2 thousand years ago to welcome Jesus.

The palms were then incensed. Note the copious smoke emanating from the thurible.

After the prayer, the priest, representing Christ, led the people in procession into the Church.

Fr. Ross, followed by Fr. Marshall.

The Rite of the Presentation of the Lord's Prayer to the RCIA candidates took place at this Mass also. Fr. Marshall can be seen presenting the Lord's Prayer to one of the candidates from my parish who will be baptised this Easter.

Fr. Marshall asked them to face the people as the prayed over them. You can see the people raising their hands as well. Father might not have realized it, but he was facing ad orientem and versus Deum during this prayer. He would have been horrified had he realized it. =)

Once again I would like to call your attention to the copious amount of smoke rising.

Hoc est enim Corpus Meum

Hic est enim calix Sanguinis Mei

Through Him, with Him, in Him.

The Shrine where the procession was supposed to begin. At night, illuminated. The altar, formerly from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, has been installed.

The Sunday Morning Mass

On Sunday morning, everything went as planned as the people gathered in front of the newly constructed but as yet unfinished Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. You can see Father's red vestments being laid out on the altar.

Cool processional cross.

Here's a look at the crowd which gathered for the blessing.

Fr. Gerard Theraviam of College General joined us for the celebration.

The servers, crucifer and thurifer lined up on either side of the altar as Fr. Mark, our assistant parish priest and main celebrant proclaimed Luke's account of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

The time came for the blessing of palms. Both priests waded into the crowds, blessing the palms raised by the people.

Fr. Mark incenses the palms. What's smoking? New incense =)

Fr. Mark preaching.

The procession then makes its way into the Church, led by the priests and followed by the people [who slipped into the Church via the side doors =)].

Hosannas rang out as the procession entered the Church.

Priests and ministers venerating the altar.

Incensing the altar. Eric holding up the priest's chasuble.

The Youth Choir which animated the Mass. Palm Sunday is also World Youth Day. The music was good. Don't ask me about the singing. All you're going to get out of me is that the music was good. =)

Note the stained glass of Christ the King,.

Fr. Gerard then read the Passion in perfectly enunciated English, to the merriment of the servers who had heard me impersonate him the night before. Hehe...

Kneeling to commemorate the death of Jesus.

A section of the crowd.

The offertory.

Censing the altar.

And the people.

Hoc est enim Corpus Meum

Hic est enim calix Sanguinis Mei

Go, the Mass is ended.

The Sunday Evening Mass

On Sunday evening, with the good weather, the blessing of the palms was again held at Our Lady's Shrine.

A healthy number of people turned up.

The procession making its way to the Church.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Mark.

This time, the Passion was proclaimed from the ambo, instead of then altar.

The old processional crucifix, decorated with palms, carried by Daniel.

This is my Body

Here ends the account of the celebration of Passion Sunday in the parish of the Immaculate Conception. I hope you enjoyed this pictorial journey of the Palm Sunday masses in my parish. Despite the many shortcomings that we have, we try to make the best of what we have despite the constraints put in our way.

All for the greater glory of God. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!