Release Date: April 6, 2023
Holy Week Celebrations at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Basilica & Praying the Steps
Holy Thursday Mass will be celebrated today, Thursday, April 6. On Holy Thursday, Catholics commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper today at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains at 5 P.M.
Tomorrow, Friday, April 7, is Good Friday. This day commemorates the day that Jesus was crucified. It is an obligatory day of fasting (one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not add up to the one full meal) and abstinence from meat for Catholics. The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral at 12 P.M. Fr. Jan Schmidt, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, will celebrate the liturgy.
For more than a century, thousands have gathered to “Pray the Steps” in Mount Adams on Good Friday. In preparation for the pilgrims who will pray the steps leading to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church, the faithful will gather at 11:30 P.M. on the evening of April 14, at the base of the steps on St. Gregory Street and, just before midnight, Fr. Adam Puntel pastor of Holy-Cross Immaculate Parish, will bless the steps. Around 200 people are expected for the blessing. Fr. Adam Puntel will then lead the group in prayer up the steps. Throughout Friday, April 7, around 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims will ascend the steps in prayer. Good Friday Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. and 7 P.M. on Friday. Confession will be available at times throughout the day on Good Friday.
The Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will be held at 8:45 P.M. on Saturday, April 8. Archbishop Schnurr will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ for hundreds of local Catholics. The Easter Vigil Mass is also when new members are initiated into the Catholic Church. Many will be baptized and received into the Church through the R.C.I.A. program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).
Easter Sunday Masses at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will be held at 9:00 A.M. and 11 A.M. on April 9. Fr. Jan Schmidt will celebrate the 11 A.M. Mass on Easter morning.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 208 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
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Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
