ON Sunday April 9, the start of Holy week for all Catholics began with the celebration of Palm Sunday.
A special Palm Sunday Mass was held at 10:00 at Our Lady of Lebanon in Mulbarton and Mass was concluded with a procession around the church grounds. A young Jesus on a pony and the children of the parish carried Easter eggs, while the adults carried palm branches and olive branches. Mass was celebrated by Father Jean Yammine, vice superior of the Maronite church of South Africa.
In the evening the Maronite tradition of the Rite of Reaching The Harbour was celebrated. This is an old Maronite Rite signifying Jesus, the harbour of salvation, the church (often also compared to Mary as the new vessel of life) as the vessel. Parishioners were asked to move outside and the church doors were closed. Mass was celebrated outside by Father Charbel Habchi and Father Anthony Egon and after knocking on the church door and praying to Christ for permission to enter, Mass was concluded inside after a short procession with candles signifying Christ the True Light.
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