Holy Week 2006 at Holy Angels began with the celebration of Palm Sunday liturgies. This year, after scripture readings and blessing of palms, we conducted outdoor processions at both 9:00 am and 11:00 am masses. At the earlier service, an abbreviated route was used from the front steps of our school to the church and then around the interior before taking seats for mass. At the 11:00 am mass, the congregation followed our traditional route around the neighborhood, exchanging informal greetings with our friends at First Baptist North as they gathered for services.
        These processions commemorated Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem upon the approach of the Passover feast. But Palm Sunday is a bittersweet day because the joyous singing of "Hosanna! Blessed be the Rock of my Salvation!" is quickly followed by the somber reading of the "Passion", the scriptural account of the crucifixion of the Savior.
        Thus began this year's most Holy Week in Christendom.