Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, to Celebrate Holy Week Masses and Other Liturgies, Beginning With Palm Sunday and Culminating in the Easter Vigil Mass, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, VA.

In-Person Celebration of Sacred Season to be Particularly Joyous Following Last Year's Virtual-Only Participation During the Onset of the Coronavirus 

ARLINGTON, Va. - Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, will celebrate Holy Week Masses and other liturgies, beginning with Palm Sunday, March 28, and culminating in the Easter Vigil Mass, April 3, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Va. While last year's Holy Week celebrations were restricted to virtual-only participation, this year, the Cathedral will welcome parishioners in person to participate fully in the Masses and other liturgies. Attendance is limited to 350 persons, and pre-registration is required to ensure social distancing.

“It is with great anticipation and joy that we enter into the Easter season following an extraordinarily difficult year for so many in our communities. As we join together in parishes across the Diocese, we give thanks to Our Lord, the one from whom all gifts and graces flow, for his self-giving love, so vividly revealed on the cross,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Let us take this occasion to recommit to living out our calling as disciples of Christ, strengthened and sustained by the life-giving sacraments of our faith. May we celebrate gratefully Christ's Resurrection, the cause of our joy.”

With many of the faithful beginning to return to their normal activities and responsibilities outside of the home, Bishop Burbidge added, “I encourage all Catholics to make Holy Week and Easter Sunday a time for intimate union with the Lord in prayer. For all who are able, please consider attending Mass and other liturgies throughout Holy Week, above all on Easter Sunday. For Catholics who are in the high-risk category for COVID-19 symptoms, or living with someone in the high-risk category, be sure to unite with your brothers and sisters in Christ virtually, through the many livestreams made available by our parishes or the 'TV Mass' on WDCW 50.”

Holy Week Masses & Liturgies, Celebrant, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

(Holy Week homilies will be posted on the Diocese's homepage at ArlingtonDiocese.org following the Masses.)

Mass of Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 28, 9:30 a.m.

*Chrism Mass (Not open to the public. Watch via livestream here.)
Thursday, April 1, 10:30 a.m.

Mass of the Lord's Supper
Thursday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.

Passion of the Lord
Friday, April 2, 3 p.m.

Easter Vigil Mass
Saturday, April 3, 8:30 p.m.

Location

Cathedral of St. Thomas More
3901 Cathedral Lane
Arlington, VA  22203

To Attend

Individuals must sign up in advance for any Holy Week liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More's website here. Registration is limited to 350 to ensure social distancing. Parishioners are expected to wear face coverings unless health issues preclude them from doing so.

*The Chrism Mass is the solemn liturgy at which Bishop Burbidge will consecrate the chrism ointment and bless the holy oils used for sacramental anointing in parishes across the Diocese. Given social distancing guidelines, this Mass is not open to the public. Interested individuals are invited to watch the liturgy via livestream at the Diocesan YouTube Channel.

Interested media, contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

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The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 71 parishes and more than 460,000 Catholics. There are currently 276 priests serving in the Diocese and 45 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation. The Diocese has 37 parish (K-8) schools, four diocesan high schools, four independent Catholic schools and five free-standing (not connected with a parish school) pre-schools, serving more than 17,000 students. 

The Diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.