Archbishop Checchio Prepared for First Holy Week in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La. – As the universal Church prepares for the observance of Holy Week, Archbishop James Checchio is preparing for his first as the 15^th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Holy Week begins this Sunday, March 29 with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and is considered the holiest and most solemn week of the year for Christians around the world.
 
“This week we revisit the final days of Jesus’s life, the days for which he lived to save us,” said Archbishop Checchio. “We begin with Palm Sunday with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then commemorate the gift of the Eucharist, the priesthood and service on Holy Thursday and then Jesus’s passion and death on Good Friday. The whole week is such a blessing and a reason for hope as we look ahead to the celebration of Jesus’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.”
 
Archbishop Checchio’s Holy Week schedule includes the celebration of two Masses for Palm Sunday in area parishes and then Holy Week Services as St. Louis Cathedral. Holy Week services at St. Louis Cathedral will be broadcast live on WLAE-TV and live streamed at thedailymass.com. His complete schedule is as follows:
 
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Vigil Mass on Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, Westwego
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Mass on Sunday, March 29 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Metairie
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Mass on Sunday, March 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Living Way of the Cross at Christian Brothers School on Wednesday, April 1 at 1 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Church, New Orleans 
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at  St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Good Friday Services on Friday, April 3 at 3 p.m. at St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 4 at 8 p.m. at St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
 
The Tuesday Chrism Mass is the annual Mass where the priests of the Archdiocese renew their priestly promises and the Archbishop blesses the sacred oils for use in all the parishes during the coming year.
 
In addition to the Holy Week liturgies, Archbishop Checchio will also partake of local customs for Holy Week including lunch at Dooky Chase Restaurant on Holy Thursday for a Gumbo Z’herbs meal and the Nine Church Walk on Good Friday.
 
“I urge everyone to enter into this Holy Week by allowing Jesus into your hearts and invite everyone to participate in the Masses and services of this week,” continued the archbishop. “Even if you have struggled with your Lenten observances, Holy Week is a beautiful time to renew those Lenten commitments as we look ahead with hope and joy to the celebration of Easter.”
 
For descriptions of the liturgies and significance of the days of Holy Week as well as video messages from Archbishop Checchio throughout the week, visit https://nolacatholic.org/holy-week or follow the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Facebook and Instagram.
 
###