In common with Christians throughout the world, the people and parishes of the Church of Ireland Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross are preparing for the start of Holy Week tomorrow, Palm Sunday, 13th April, 2014.  From the earliest centuries of the Christian movement, disciples of Jesus Christ have retraced the lats days of his journey, from his entry in triumph to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) to the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday), his trial and execution (Good Friday), his burial and the resurrection on Easter Day.

The parishes of these Dioceses have full programmes of Services and ceremonies to serve as collective memory of those events at the heart of Christian belief.  There are walks and talks, early starts and late finishes, dramatic liturgy, Stations, reflections, proclamation, silence and waiting, themes and visiting speakers.

Palm Sunday at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Palm Sunday: Palms, Processions, Gospel … a Donkey

On tomorrow, Palm Sunday, Services throughout the Diocese commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in triumph, sitting on a donkey, and being hailed as a king as palms were thrown down to greet him.  The Palm Liturgy is observed in many places, including:

• Monkstown at 09.30 a.m.
• Caheragh at 10.15 a.m. – An All Age Service for Palm Sunday
• Kinneigh (near Ballineen) at 10.30 a.m.
• Carrigaline at 11 a.m. (where Billy the Donkey will also make an appearance)
• Kinsale at 11.30 a.m.
• Skibbereen, also at 11.30 a.m. – An All Age Service for Palm Sunday

Two ecumenical Palm Sunday events are also highlighted:

Douglas: at 3 p.m. Douglas Churches Together invite you to meet at Douglas Community Park for their walk around Douglas village with stops for reading and prayer before proceeding to the Douglas Court Shopping Centre and the Douglas Village Shopping Centre where display stands will be opened.  These stands will be staffed by local Christians throughout Holy Week and a box for prayer requests is made available to shoppers.

Later tomorrow, in Clonakilty at 7.30 p.m., starting at Kennedy Gardens, you are invited to the Three Churches Ecumenical Palm Sunday Procession.

Keep in touch with us here on this NewsBlog for updates and announcements as this week unfolds.  The announcements are also available on the Cork, Cloyne and Ross page on Facebook, and on Twitter @CoIrelandCork