PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Led by Bishop Robert Brennan, more than 100 Catholics on March 29 walked a half mile from St. Teresa of Avila Church to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph for the Palm Sunday procession.  

This year marked a change in the procession’s starting point. The faithful began their journey at St. Teresa of Avila on Classon Avenue instead of Grand Army Plaza, as they had in past years. The Co-Cathedral and St. Teresa of Avila are part of the same parish. 

The decision to begin the journey at St. Teresa of Avila was a deliberate one, said Father Patrick Keating, rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. 

“One of the options in the general instruction of the Roman Missal speaks of gathering in one church and processing to another,” Father Keating Told the Tablet, noting that because the parish has two churches it was important to include them both in the celebration of Palm Sunday. 

But while the route changed, the destination was the same — the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph on Pacific Street, where the faithful, with palms in hand, attended a Spanish language Mass celebrated by Bishop Brennan. 

As she waited at St. Teresa of Avila, Ailyn Cruz said she was looking forward to the procession “and walking together, all of us in faith.”

Cruz said this year’s Palm Sunday was different from years past, not just because of the change in the procession route. “I’ve been praying more this year,” she said. 

Before setting off on the procession, the faithful raised their palms so that Bishop Brennan could bless them. 

With their palms blessed, the faithful, many of whom were Spanish-speaking parishioners, then followed Bishop Brennan out of the church to begin the procession. 

As they walked the streets, they chanted “Viva Cristo Rey!” and sang hymns. 

“We are witnesses to our faith, walking with Jesus because he walked the way before us and lives the way with us,” Bishop Brennan told The Tablet. 

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the palms the faithful held aloft symbolized peace and victory.  

The day also marks the beginning of Holy Week, which includes the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Way of the Cross Procession across the Brooklyn Bridge on Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, and culminates on Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of the risen Lord. 

For Rosalinda Rosario, a parishioner of the co-cathedral, the Palm Sunday procession was the chance to send a message of love to the public.  

“The faith that I have, I hope everyone encounters,” she said.  

At several points during the procession, onlookers stopped walking, gazed at the participants, and smiled. Some took pictures of the procession. 

“When they see the procession, they know that Jesus is alive,” Rosario said. “He is resurrected and they should have faith.”