Father Omar Galvan, assisted by Deacon Jaime Nieto, blesses palms before Palm Sunday Mass April 10 at St. Raphael Church in Springdale. Travis McAfee photo.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor (right center) leads the Seder Meal for the first time at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock April 10, with pastor Father Greg Luyet and parishioner Diane Hanley (left) assisting. Malea Hargett photo.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche) starts the service lit with candles during Tenebrae, which means “darkness” in Latin, April 13. Aprille Hanson Spivey photo.

Father Leon W. Ngandu, SVD, pastor of St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock, washes the feet of parishioner Wondrue Johnson during the parish’s Holy Thursday liturgy April 14. Aprille Hanson Spivey photo.

Two altar servers assist pastor Father Joshua Passo in covering the crucifix and stripping the altar at the end of Holy Thursday Mass April 14 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Springdale. Travis McAfee photo.

Deacon Israel Sanchez (left center) and St. Barbara Church pastor Father Ramses Mendieta lead the Penitential Way of the Cross on the streets of DeQueen on Good Friday, April 15. Parishioners carried life-size statues of Jesus the Nazarene and the Mother of Sorrows. Photo courtesy St. Barbara Church.

Mary, played by Mercedes Ocampo. rushes to the foot of the cross after Jesus’ death during the Passion Play presented at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers April 15. Mary is joined by “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and Mary Magdalene, played by Jesús Ugalde and Leslie Martinez. The Hispanic community presents living Stations of the Cross every Good Friday. Travis McAfee photo.

Pilate, played by Hugo Arias, leads Roman soldiers who carry the dead body of Jesus, played by Leonardo Lugo Flores, in procession with other reenactors and with members of the audience from MacArthur Park in Little Rock across East Ninth Street to St. Edward Church to be laid in the tomb. Chris Price photo.

Deacon candidate Randy Spellins, assisted by deacon candidate Jerome Ngundue, holds a wooden cross as parishioners venerate it during the Good Friday service at Christ the King Church in Little Rock April 15. Malea Hargett photo.

Pastor Father Norbert Rappold and associate pastor Father Jayaraju "Raj" Sure pray over the fire used to light the paschal candle, representing the light of Christ before Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home April 16, as altar server Francis Kelly and other watch. Parishioners processed inside the sanctuary, each lighting a candle to symbolize light dispelling darkness. Aprille Hanson Spivey photo.

Pastor Father John Connell sprinkles holy water on parishioners after they renew their baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil April 16 at St. Raphael Church in Springdale. Travis McAfee photo.

Photo Slideshow: Living the Passion

Holy Week celebrations bring to life Christ's death and resurrection

Published: April 21, 2022

By Arkansas Catholic Staff

Aprille Hanson Spivey

Noah Bruzzichesi, 7, wipes baptismal water from his head with help from associate pastor Father Jayaraju “Raj” Sure after being baptized during Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home April 16. Lynne Weaver (right) is his godmother and grandmother.

Aprille Hanson Spivey

From Seder Meals and palm blessings to live Stations of the Cross and 423 new Catholics being brought into the Church, Holy Week events across the state brought to life Christ's death and resurrection, the core of the Catholic faith.

Bishop Taylor wants you to know more about your faith & the Church: Sign up for Arkansas Catholic's free digital edition.