Holy Week at St. John's Cathedral

Holy Week at St. John's is the center of our liturgical and community life. It celebrates the core of our entire Christian life: for us and for our redemption, Jesus became truly human, suffered, died, was buried and rose from the dead. In Holy Week we again affirm that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God and we follow Jesus Christ our King.

For the past two years our Holy Week observance has been primarily virtual. While our worship held us together, it was not what we would hope for this holy season. This year we are able to return to in-person services. Nevertheless, we still are in a period of transition. We still are not fully back up to speed, so some of our liturgies may be a bit different than we have experienced them in the past, yet we are on our way.

We will have the same grand celebration of Christ's triumphal entry and our pledge to follow him as our Lord, but will not have our Palm Sunday procession into the street since we want to be sensitive to those joining us digitally. While there will be no tenebrare this year, Maundy Thursday will be a key time to gather as the community of Jesus' disciples. There will be no meal served, but we will serve one another in the washing of feet. As always, the service concludes with the powerful stripping and washing of the altar and keeping vigil with our Lord in the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament will be reserved. The solemn liturgy of Good Friday will be as it has been in years past. All the drama of the ancient liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday night will help us all renew the vows of our baptism with those who will be baptized, confirmed and received in the Church. Bishop Taylor will be with us to preach and celebrate. Finally, the celebration of Easter morning will have all the fanfare of music and beautiful liturgy as we proclaim Jesus Christ is truly risen.

What we need to make these celebrations complete is your presence. While we know that digital presence is also real, Nothing can replace the physical presence we share together, especially in this most sacred week of the entire year. To have our cathedral feel full again will be what makes these celebrations especially powerful. Please come in person. Please invite your friends and family. Let us all return to being the community of Christ, the Body of Christ, gathered for worship and service to the world.