Catholics celebrate Holy Week in archdiocese

Members of the Little Village Via Crucis pray before the start of rehearsal on March 11, 2024 of the Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross, they would perform on Good Friday of Holy Week through the neighborhood at the Good Shepherd Church worship site, 2735 S. Kolin Ave. The passion reenactment, which included parishes Cristo Rey, Saint Agnes of Bohemia and Mother of the Americas parishes, has been a Good Friday tradition in the Hispanic community for many years. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Pontius Pilate, played by Gabino Martinez, confronts the crowd while Jesus, played by Jose Alberto Martínez, practices at his trial during rehearsal. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jesus, played by Jose Alberto Martínez, meets the women of Jerusalem. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Members of parishes in Little Village rehearse key moments on March 11, 2024 of the Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross, that they will perform on Good Friday. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jesus, played by Jose Alberto Martínez, practices one of the falls. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Students make their way to participate in a palm Sunday procession before Mass with palms they created at St. William Parish, 2600 N. Sayre Ave., home to St. Brother Albert Chmielowski Polish School that ministers to children and young people of the Polish-speaking community. St. William hosted students and their families of Chicago-area Polish schools to celebrate the winners of St. Albert Polish School’s third annual palms competition on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024. In past competitions, some palm creations by students have measured 14 feet high. Palms are a traditional and popular Polish Easter decoration and the intricate assembling of palm branches from different colorful materials include woven paper, dried flowers, pussy willows, straw and fabric can be found at Easter markets throughout Poland. In many regions, competitions are held for the most beautiful or the tallest Easter Palm, which is replicated in this local contest at St. Albert Polish School. Nearly 100 students from 18 Polish schools submitted creative palm artworks to the competition judges. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Students participate in a Palm Sunday procession before Mass with palms they created. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Students attend Mass with their parents holding palms they created. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Father Ryszard Gron, pastor of St. William Parish, blesses palms on his way up the aisle. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Students attend Mass with their parents holding palms they created. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Children brush animals as St. Albert the Great Parish in Burbank hosted a petting zoo for families in between Palm Sunday services in front of the church on March 24, 2024. The petting zoo included animals such a lamb, bunny rabbits, goats, a pony and a donkey, the latter symbolizing how Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover where crowds met him with palm branches shouting, “Hosanna!” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Emmanuel Nieto, 4, feeds a goat. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Montse Saucedo pets the donkey. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

A boy feeds a goat. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

A goat tries to lick the photographer’s camera. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Thomas Bedzo watches as Dyrice Garner-Stewart gets her feet washed by Precious Blood Father Denny Kinderman who was assisted by Deacon LeRoy Gill. Cheryl Newson also looks on during the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024 at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 9015 S. Harper Ave. The foot-washing ritual reflects the call to imitate Christ by serving one another. During the Mass, the holy oils were brought up that were blessed at the Chrism Mass earlier this week. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Patricia Pike leads the choir during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Assisted by Deacon LeRoy Gill, Precious Blood Father Denny Kinderman washes the feet of Aaliyah Morris. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic

Alice Lancaster presents one of the holy oils that were blessed at the Chrism Mass earlier that week. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners from St. Jerome Parish, 1700 W. Lunt Ave., process with the Eucharist toward West Pratt Blvd. and Glenview Avenue in the neighborhood surrounding their parish during a Via Crucis on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. Stations of the Cross, also known as Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis, refers to depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and the accompanying prayers. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners from St. Jerome Parish process in the neighborhood surrounding their parish during a Via Crucis on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

In the fourth station, Jesus, portrayed by Erwin Jose Martinez, meets his mother, played by Evelia Patino. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Father Noel Beltran Reyes, pastor of St. Jerome, gives a reading during the Via Crucis as the group stops during a station. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Bulmaro Torrres, who plays Simon, helps Jesus, played by Erwin Jose Martinez, carry his cross as they process down West Morse Avenue toward North Ashland Avenue in the fifth station of the Station of the Cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners from St. Jerome Parish make their way down West Morse Avenue as they follow the procession in the neighborhood surrounding their parish during a Via Crucis on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jesus, portrayed by Erwin Jose Martinez, is nailed to the cross by soldiers in the 11th station in front of St. Jerome Church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Dismas who was crucified with Jesus on his right is played by Jose Ruiz during the crucifixion. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners dressed as biblical characters kneel during the crucifixion reenactment in front of St. Jerome Church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jesus, portrayed by Erwin Jose Martinez, dies on the cross in the 12th station. Gestas, portrayed by Gilberto Rios, is crucified next to Jesus on his left. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Children dressed as young soldiers and members of the crowd watch as Jesus hangs on the cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Mary, played by Evelia Patino, holds Jesus, portrayed by Erwin Jose Martinez, after he is taken down from the cross in the 13th station. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich prays during the blessing of the Holy Fire at the start of the Easter Vigil Mass with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on March 30, 2024. People from Holy Name Cathedral Parish became full members of the Catholic Church during the celebration by receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation, as part of the RCIA process. On this night, hundreds of adults were baptized and received into the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and hundreds more completed their initiation by being confirmed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

With assistance from Father Andy Matijevic, director of liturgy for Holy Name Cathedral, Cardinal Cupich prays during the blessing of the Holy Fire and preparation of the candle in the cathedral courtyard. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catechumens stand with their sponsors in the courtyard. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

With assistance from Father Andy Matijevic, director of liturgy for Holy Name Cathedral, seminarian Kevin Ellis retrieves the fire for Cardinal Cupich to light the Paschal candle during the blessing of the Holy Fire and preparation of the candle in the cathedral courtyard. Holding the book is seminarian Patrick Santino and the candle is seminarian Matt Duff. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

The procession continues from the courtyard down the main aisle of the cathedral. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Those receiving the sacraments and their sponsors hold candles during the Exsultet. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Soon to be new members of the church and their sponsors hold candles during the Exsultet, also known as “Service of Light” or as “Christ Our Light” is sung. On far right is candidate Cameron Collier. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich dips the Paschal candle in the baptismal font three times to bless the water. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catechumen Michael Benning stands with his sponsor before being baptized. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich looks at her name tag before baptizing catechumen Charisma Wills. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich baptizes catechumen Max Malec. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich congratulates Crystal Wu after administering the Sacrament of Confirmation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)