Holy Week Begins in Pasadena with Palm Sunday

The pews of Pasadena’s churches will be filled with worshipers today and in the coming days as Christians across the city gather to commemorate the most sacred time of their faith: Holy Week.

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the faithful will retrace the final days of Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, and his resurrection through a series of solemn rituals, heartfelt reflections, and joyous celebrations.

At St. Andrew Church in Pasadena, the observances begin on Palm Sunday, March 24, with the Blessing of Palms, reenacting Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

“We begin this Sunday with Palm Sunday at all of our masses,” said Father Marcos Gonzalez, the church’s pastor. “This is followed by Holy Tuesday’s annual panel service and a new Tenebrae service on Holy Wednesday.”

The Tenebrae service, an ancient tradition being reintroduced this year, will feature the chanting of penitential songs and the gradual extinguishing of candles, symbolizing the darkness that fell upon the world at the moment of Christ’s death. Father Gonzalez sees these rituals as a powerful invitation to renewal and hope.

“The central message is always the same, and that is hope, that God loves each and every person,” he said. “God invites each and every person to return to him. So the lengths that we’re going through right now is a great time of conversion, repentance, and return.”

At Pasadena’s First Baptist Church, Pastor John Jay Alvaro embraces the enduring power of tradition in an era of rapid change.

“We are aware of the general trends in Christianity nationally and worldwide,” he said. “There’s something about long, deep traditions that helps to stabilize our community in times of cultural change.”

First Baptist’s Holy Week observances include a Maundy Thursday service, which commemorates the Last Supper with communion and foot washing, and a Good Friday service focused on the Passion of Christ.

The church’s engagement with the broader community extends beyond its open services. On Easter Sunday, First Baptist will host a community potluck and an egg hunt, fostering a spirit of fellowship and celebration.

Across from City Hall, All Saints Church, a historic Pasadena congregation, takes a slightly different approach to Holy Week, blending traditional liturgies with contemporary reflections on peace and justice.

“Holy Week is like a liturgical symphony, telling the story of Jesus and calling us to live out his values in the world,” said Reverend Canon Susan Russell.

As part of its commitment to social justice, All Saints held a bilingual Stations of the Cross service on Good Friday, inviting participants to reflect on Christ’s suffering and its connection to the struggles of the marginalized and oppressed.

Despite the challenges posed by an evolving religious landscape, Pasadena’s churches remain steadfast in their commitment to the timeless messages of Holy Week. Through diverse observances, they offer a space for the faithful to confront the reality of death, to find solace in the promise of resurrection, and to renew their commitment to living out their faith in the world.

“Now is the time to come home,” Father Gonzalez said. “Now is the time to start all over again.”