Passion Sunday

Passion Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week

Also known as Palm Sunday it marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. It is the final Sunday of Lent, when we remember the triumphant arrival of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, into Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion.

The Gospel tells us how the crowds welcomed Him:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!”

(Matthew 21:1–11)

In the image above, we see that powerful moment brought to life: Christ entering the city humbly on a donkey, surrounded by crowds laying down cloaks and waving palm branches in joyful acclaim. Yet even in this scene of celebration, we are reminded of the deeper journey that lies ahead.

Why Palms?

On this day, the faithful receive blessed palm branches and often take part in a procession, re-enacting that first entry into Jerusalem. The palms are a symbol of peace, victory, and triumph.

After Mass, many take their palms home as a sign of faith and devotion. These blessed palms are not discarded but kept reverently—often returned to the Church later to be burned, forming the ashes used on Ash Wednesday the following year.

From Triumph to Passion

Palm Sunday carries a striking contrast. Even as we celebrate Christ’s joyful welcome, we also hear the solemn reading of His Passion. The same voices that cried “Hosanna” would soon cry “Crucify Him.”

The liturgical colours reflect this mystery:

🔴 Red – the blood Christ will shed for the salvation of the world

⚪ White – His victory, purity, and kingship

Palm Sunday invites us to walk with Christ through the events of Holy Week—from the Last Supper, to the Cross, and ultimately to the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

As we begin this sacred journey, may we not only wave palms in celebration, but also follow Christ faithfull all the way to the Cross and beyond.