ST PHILIP THE APOSTLE
SOUTH TOTTENHAM
Holy Week & Easter 2023 at St Philips
All are welcome to join in worship as we commemorate the last week of Jesus Christ's mortal life, from Palm Sunday to His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday
Palm Sunday - 2 April at 10am
On this day, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery.
To mark the beginning of Holy Week, we recall the triumphal entry with the blessing of palms and a with a procession, which will take place departing from West Green Common to St Philip's Church, accompanied by a brass band and hymns.
Our worship then continues in Church with the narrating of the Lord's Passion and the celebration of Holy Communion.
Maundy Thursday - 6 April at 7:30pm
Maundy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when he established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood. The holy day falls on the Thursday before Easter and is part of Holy Week.
Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice. The Last Supper was the final meal Jesus shared with his Disciples in Jerusalem. During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal.
After our Mass, the Church is plunged into darkness and the altars are stripped bare and we wait in solemn adoration with Our Lord until midnight.
Good Friday - 7 April at Midday
Good Friday is the day on which Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Catholics are joined by almost all other Christians in solemn commemoration on this day. It is also a legal holiday around much of the world.
Our worship on this day begins with the devotion of Stations of the Cross as we remember and spiritually walk with Our Lord on those final hours before his death beginning with his condemnation.
3pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion
The main liturgy of the day is split into three parts: the Liturgy of the Word which includes the passion narrative according to John and the Solemn Intercessions, the Adoration of the Cross, and Holy Communion. From the earliest days, Good Friday has been kept as an a-liturgical day, that is one on which we do not celebrate Mass. The Eucharist that is received on Good Friday was consecrated a day earlier at the Holy Thursday liturgy.
After the celebration there is a chance to break our Good Friday Fast with Hot Cross Buns. The Church is also open until 6pm for private prayer and devotion.
6pm Maria Desolata
Our Good Friday worship concludes with the evening devotion, Maria Desolata, Walking the Stations of the Cross backwards we retrace meditate the way of the cross from Mary’s perspective helping us to relate these great events to our daily lives.
Holy Saturday The Easter Vigil - 8 April at 8pm
The Easter Vigil liturgy is the most beautiful liturgy in the Church. Although celebrated Holy Saturday evening, it is the dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. We are awaiting our master's return with our lamps full and burning, so that he will find us awake and seat us at his table . All Christians should try to attend this beautiful service. The vigil is divided into four parts: Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Easter Sunday - 9 April at 10am
Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year.
As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead.
Since Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.
