Children and Holy Week

The events of Holy Week, the most sacred time of the Christian calendar, define who we are as Christians. The liturgies are designed to help shape our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be a Christian, and the wonderful thing that God did for us through Jesus. On Palm Sunday we watch with the crowd as Jesus makes his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday, the first of three Triduum liturgies, we participate as the disciples did in the foot washing, learning what it means to serve as Jesus served, and to love as Jesus loved. On Good Friday, we pray for the world, for those who suffer in it as we gaze upon and reverently touch the cross upon which Jesus, in life and in death, bore all of our suffering. At the Easter Vigil we carry the light of Christ through the dark, participate in the sacred stories of the Old Testament, initiate new members into the body of Christ through the waters of baptism, renew our own baptismal covenant, shout alleluia in recognition of Christ’s resurrection. As we move through the Holy Week liturgies we experience again in wonder the gift of Christ. We are called to participate (by our posture, response, prayer, song, our outstretched hands at the peace and in the receiving of the eucharist). These multi-sensory, experiential liturgies are ideally suited for our young people. So bring them – come and see with them – and let them share with us this greatest of mysteries through their eyes!