The Vigil of Palms

Saturday 12th April 2025 - 7pm

Good Shepherd Chapel, Abbotsford

Beautiful music played as the congregation gathered for tonight’s Palm Sunday service. Father Mark played the organ as the clergy prepared for the evening’s liturgy.

The clergy entered in deep red vestments as Metropolitan Raffaele sang “Praise to The Lord”. It was lovely to see our two Servers in their new matching vestments .

The Kyrie was sung and then the Metropolitan spoke of Jesus’ return to Jerusalem. He explained that people expected the Messiah to come as a great warrior king who would smite the enemies of Israel, but that instead, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a Donkey. He came speaking of love and humility - what is more humble than arriving on a Donkey, rather than a grand warrior’s horse? The Metropolitan explained how humility can be a great act of love.

He went on to remind us how those ancient people had carpeted the street of Jerusalem with palms as Jesus arrived on his donkey, and that today we bless palms to honour and remember our recently departed loved ones as they travel the path to Heaven. Boxes of palms were brought to the altar and blessed by the clergy. Then Metropolitan Raffaele sang Hosanna and Server Luke and Server Ayden distributed the Blessed Palms to the congregation.

Next, Metropolitan Raffaele prayed for the recently departed, honouring each person by chanting their name and uttering a prayer for their salvation.

Father Mark read from Philippians which told us to think and do the things which are just and pure. The Metropolitan explained that when we make the Sign of the Cross it reminds us to do just this: touching our foreheads remind us to think justly and purely, touching our lips reminds us to say what is true and just, and touching our hearts reminds us to do the right things and feel what is just and pure.

The Gospel was brought among the people and Metropolitan Raffaele read from St John’s book. It reminded us that when the people gathered in Jerusalem to perform the purification rites of Passover, they looked around for Jesus - where was he? He was anticipated. And when he arrived, the people layed palms in the streets and sang Hosanna, with some children calling out “Hoi Sana” meaning “save us”.

Instead of giving a homily, Metropolitan Raffaele had written a Pascal Prayer for the families of the recently departed. The funeral directors had attached some rosary beads to the prayer card and the Metropolitan blessed these before inviting Vito to give some words of comfort.

Vito honoured our missing loved ones, reminding us that rather than dwell on their empty seat at our tables, remember that they are now dwelling in the fullness of God and we can be joyful. Vito invited the families to come and receive a prayer card, and the ladies from the funeral home distributed these to the families. We then read Metropolitan Raffaele’s prayer together.

The liturgy continued and everyone offered each other signs of peace. The Creed was recited and the Entrance Hymn was sung. The Gifts were brought to the altar and blessed, before the prayer of transfiguration was uttered.

We recited the Ave Maria before a hymn to the Theotokos was sung. We then recited the Our Father prayer before the clergy took Holy Communion. Everyone was invited to share in Holy Communion as Father Mark played Angus Dei on the organ.

Then the Gifts were returned to the Prothesis and we all sang the thanksgiving hymns before heading to the cloisters for a delicious snack of pies, sandwiches, and Canoli!

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