Walking with Christ Through Holy Week and the Easter Season
By Allison Mosier03/16/2026
Across the Diocese of Erie, Catholics are invited to enter the most sacred days of the Church year as Holy Week begins and the Church prepares to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Week marks the final days of Jesus’ earthly life and leads the faithful through the central mysteries of the Christian faith — his suffering, death and resurrection. Beginning with Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, Catholics are invited to accompany Christ through the events that reveal God’s profound love for the world.
“The celebration of Holy Week and Easter is at the very heart of who we are as Christians,” said Bishop Lawrence T. Persico. “These sacred days remind us that Christ willingly entered into suffering and death so that we might share in the promise of new life. I encourage the faithful of the Diocese of Erie to take part in these liturgies and allow the grace of the Resurrection to renew their hearts.”
A central moment of Holy Week for the diocesan Church is the Chrism Mass, which will be celebrated Monday, March 30, at Saint Peter Cathedral. During this Mass, priests from across the diocese gather with the bishop to renew their priestly promises, and the bishop blesses the holy oils used throughout the year in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick and holy orders.
“The Chrism Mass is one of the most beautiful expressions of the unity of our diocesan Church,” said Father Matthew Kujawinski, director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Diocese of Erie and pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Harborcreek. “When priests gather with the bishop and the faithful for this Mass, it reminds us that the sacraments celebrated in every parish throughout the year are united through the life of the Church. The oils blessed that day will be used in baptisms, confirmations and the anointing of the sick across the entire diocese.”
Following the solemn liturgies of Holy Week, the Church celebrates the joy of Easter — not only for a single day but throughout the 50-day Easter season, which continues until Pentecost. During this time, Catholics reflect on the appearances of the risen Christ and the birth of the early Church, renewing their own call to live as witnesses of hope.
Families also play an important role in helping the next generation experience the meaning of these sacred celebrations.
“Children may not remember every word of a homily, but they remember being present with their family in church,” said Melanie Sisinni, editor of Faith magazine, who also offers guidance to families through her quarterly parenting column as a mother of four. “When parents bring their children to Mass during Holy Week and Easter, they help them experience the story of our faith in a way that becomes part of their lives. Those moments in church together can shape a child’s understanding of faith for years to come.”
Throughout the Diocese of Erie, parishes will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, welcoming the faithful to gather in prayer and reflection.
As the Church moves from the darkness of Good Friday to the light of the Resurrection, these sacred days remind Catholics that Christ’s victory over sin and death continues to bring hope to the world today. The faithful are invited to walk through this holy season together and celebrate the joy of Easter by participating in Mass. To find a parish and Mass time near you, visit our Mass listings at https://www.eriercd.org/easter.html.
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