Holy See announces busy papal schedule for coming weeks

Vatican City, Feb 23, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published today the calendar of celebrations that are scheduled to be presided over by the Holy Father until April.

The schedule includes Ash Wednesday, a celebration of the word in the Vatican Basilica at 10:30 a.m., with blessing and distribution of ashes.

This Saturday, February 28, the Pope will preside at Mass at 6 p.m. in Paul VI Hall with the following Roman parishes: St. Anselm, St. Mary, Star of Evangelization, St. Charles Borromeo, St. John the Baptist de la Salle.  And on Sunday, February 29, the first Sunday in Lent, the Roman Curia will begin their spiritual exercises in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel. The retreat ends on March 6.

The March schedule includes the following activities:

·      Saturday, 13. At 6:30 p.m. in the Paul VI Hall, Rosary with university students.

·      Saturday, 20. In the Paul VI Hall at 6 p.m., Mass with the following Roman parishes: St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Patrick, St. Mary Mediatrix and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

·      Sunday, 21: Fourth Sunday in Lent.  At 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Beatification of Servants of God Luigi Talamoni, Matilde del Sagrado Corazon Tellez Robles, Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real, Maria Candida dell’Eucaristia.

·      Saturday, 27. At 6 p.m. in the Paul VI Hall, Mass with the following Roman parishes: St. John of the Cross, St. Felicity and Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria.

And in April, the Pope will preside at:

·      Sunday, 4: Palm Sunday, 19th World Youth Day in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. Blessing of palms, procession and Mass.

·      Thursday, 8: Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 9:30 a.m.  At 5:30 p.m., also in the Vatican Basilica, the beginning of the Easter Triduum with the Mass of the Last Supper.

·      Friday, 9: Good Friday. In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m., Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. At 9:15 p.m. in the Colosseum, Way of the Cross.

·      Saturday, 10: Holy Saturday.  In the Vatican Basilica at 7 p.m., Easter Vigil.

·      Sunday, 11: Easter Sunday. In St. Peter’s Square at 10:30 a.m., Mass and “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.

·      Sunday, 25: Third Sunday of Easter. In St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., Beatification of Servants of God Augusto Czartoryski, Laura Montoya, Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, Julia Nemesia Valle, Eusebia Palomino Yenes and Alexandrina Maria da Costa.