Holy week is underway and worshippers around the world took part in Palm Sunday services.
In New York City, Archbishop Ronald Hicks encouraged reflection on the life and legacy of Jesus in his first Palm Sunday leading the Archdiocese of New York.
Barely a seat was empty in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for the service as thousands of partitioners reflected on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem during his final week of life.
This year’s service took on a bit of a different look with the newly-installed archbishop at the helm.
“Jesus really lived and suffered and entered his passion, died on a cross,” Hicks told parishoners
The archbishop blessed the palms and challenged worshippers before him to take this holy week to dive into the mystery of Jesus and his story. “As we enter into this holy week, we will also remember that after his death and being buried, on the third day he rose again and shares eternal life with all who believe in him through the resurrection,” said Hicks.
Sunday’s service was an important one for Sonia Salas and several families who told NBC New York they wanted their kids to have the experience, and learn to cherish the same Christian traditions that they grew up on, as they reinforced their faith in the words of Christ.
“The traditions have been faulting over the years, and I think it’s so important that they come back to what grounds us,” said Salas.
Olia Morales told News 4, “It has a really really big meaning to me and my family and I want to make sure that my son follows those traditions as well.”
In Queens, Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed worshippers at Greater Allen AME Cathedral’s Palm Sunday service, leaning into Jesus’ will to serve others.
Mamdani compared that will to his own work as mayor, and a model to be followed moving forward.
“I know that my job as mayor of this city is to make it easier to have faith and the way that you make it easier is by doing the work,” Mamdani said. “And so when we think about that work, it is work that must have the people at the heart of it.”
