By Gretchen Keiser

A donkey bearing baskets of palm branches will lead the procession on Palm Sunday at Sacred Heart Church, 353 Peachtree St., at 10 a.m. The solemn blessing of palm branches will take place in the courtyard outside the church, weather permitting, and then Mass will follow. This is a tradition at Sacred Heart Church, recreating the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem on the back of donkey and beginning the events of Holy Week and the Passion.

The day before Palm Sunday, Saturday, March 30, all in the archdiocese of Atlanta are invited to take part in a Day of Recollection in preparation for Holy Week. This event, from 10-2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, will include preaching by three of the young priests, Fathers Richard Wise, John Walsh and James Schillinger, and the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Holy Week events begin at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2669 Peachtree Road, with the Chrism Mass at 11 a.m. on Holy Thursday, April 4. At this Mass, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, with all of the priests of the archdiocese, will bless the oil and consecrate the chrism that will be used throughout the next year in the life of the Church. These oils will be at the heart of the sacramental life of the Church, used in baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick and the blessing and dedication of new churches. Also at the Chrism Mass all of the priests renew their vows as priests and their dedication to the Church’s service under the leadership of the archbishop.

On Good Friday, the hours from noon to 3 p.m. will be marked by the Tre Ore service at the Cathedral and Sacred Heart Church. The service includes the reflections upon the seven words spoken by Jesus during his hours on the cross. At the Cathedral, Archbishop Donnellan and the staff of the Cathedral will lead the reflections. The choir of the Cathedral will perform traditional motets by such renowned composers as Palestrina as part of the service. The Station of the Cross will begin at 2:30 p.m. Good Friday evening the Liturgy of Good Friday will begin at 7 p.m. Archbishop Donnellan will preside.

Holy Saturday at 8 p.m. the Easter Vigil celebration will include the reception of converts into the Church, the renewal of baptismal promises by all the congregation and the first Mass of Easter. Archbishop Donnellan will be the celebrant of this Mass and will also be the celebrant of the 11 a.m. Mass on Easter Sunday morning. At the Mass, the Cathedral choir will be joined by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Ensemble in the performance of Renaissance brass music for organ, choir and brass.

This will be a special Easter for the Shrine of Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. This is the first time since 1982 that the community has been able to celebrate the Easter and Holy Week services in their church, which was almost destroyed by fire three years ago.

Holy Week services in the renovated and rededicated Shrine include a 7:30 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, a Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Communion Service on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the Solemn Celebration of the Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday morning at the 9 a.m., Mass the choir will perform special music for the feast. All are invited to come to the Shrine and share in their Easter joy in their rededicated church.