Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week in preparation for Easter Sunday one week later, and the tradition in many churches involved the blessing and distribution of palm leaves and pussy willow branches.
Palms are traditionally blessed in Western Christian churches such as Roman Catholic, Anglican/Episcopal and Lutheran on Palm Sunday. The tradition in Eastern Christian churches, such as St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Shenandoah, is the branches of the willow tree are blessed on Flowery Sunday.
Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor, blessed the pussy willow branches and palms at the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy. Willow branches standing about 6 feet tall were in two large vases on both sides of the Royal Doors, which are located in the center of the icon wall called the “iconostasis” and that lead into the sanctuary where the altar is located.
A table filled with pussy willows and palms was placed in front of the iconostasis. If possible, the pussy willow branches are collected by parishioners where they live, either from their properties or in the wild.
“We always forget that we should place ourselves in the time of Jesus and also place ourselves in the time and events that took place in the Gospel reading,” Grabowsky said in his homily, referring to the Gospel reading that included Jesus having a dinner in the home of his friend Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, along with Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, and others.
“We’re a lot like Lazarus. Many of us are entombed by many things that have accumulated in our lives,” Grabowsky said. “Jesus wants to show us that just like Lazarus, who was four days in a tomb, we been entombed for many years.”
Near the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Grabowsky, assisted by altar servers Joel Caputo, Luke Caputo and Noah Swaldi, incensed the pussy willows and palm, followed by sprinkling them with holy water. After the blessing, people came to the front for the anointing with holy oil and then selected their blessed willow branches and palms to bring home as sacramentals.
The Divine Liturgy was offered for the late Stanley G. Rakowsky, who had served for more than two decades as superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley School District and had recently passed away. Members of his family attended the Divine Liturgy in a group. After the Divine Liturgy, a reception with coffee and doughnuts was held in church hall sponsored by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce and Shenandoah Rotary Club.
Grabowsky reminded the congregation that the sacrament of Holy Anointing will be administered on Great and Holy Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the church.
“The traditional custom in the Eastern Catholic and all Eastern Christian churches is that on Wednesday there is a healing service, which is a very special service because it prepares us for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and, ultimately, for the Resurrection of our Lord,” Grabowsky said.
The Wednesday service will begin with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, during which time the healing service will be held after the reading of the Gospel.
In Pottsville, the Right Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, celebrated Palm Sunday service with members of Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 S. Second St.
“It’s the beginning of our Holy Week and it takes us from Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and into his crucifixion and resurrection on Sunday,” Rowe said.
Rowe blessed the palms held by the parishioners and told them that it too was the start of their journey.
“I reminded them about the journey that we are on as Christians,” Rowe said after the service. “On Palm Sunday, the apostles were beginning to find their voice and we as Christians need to find our voice to spread peace and love to a world that desperately needs to hear that message. The death of Jesus was not the final word. God always has the final word and that final word is one of resurrection and peace.”
Rowe said it was the first time he celebrated service at the parish and that he was invited by the congregation.
“This is a parish also in a transition and I wanted to be with them through that,” Rowe said.
Trinity Episcopal has not yet named a new rector.
“It’s a unique place of worship and the people here are clearly engaged in ministry in their community,” Rowe said.