Palm Sunday at St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk

The Palm Sunday liturgy began in the church this year with the blessing and distribution of palms. The procession followed outside around the perimeter of the church grounds. A congregation of over 400 attended the liturgy which lasted almost 3 hours (including the procession). The reading of the Passion, featured three cantors and the schola cantorum, which sang the polyphonic turba settings by Tomás Luis de Victoria. The extensive chanting and polyphonic motets, which involved  three of St. Mary’s choirs, were particularly beautiful and well-rehearsed.

Deacon Stephan Genovese, Father John Ringley, the celebrant, and Subdeacon Bill Riccio enter the sanctuary

Blessing the Palms

The Children’s Schola, led by David Hughes chants from the vestibule of the church

The Holy Gospel

“Procedamus in pace”

The subdeacon bangs on the door to the church thrice with the cross and all enter.

After the procession vestments and altar frontispiece are changed to purple

Father Cipolla, Father Ringley and Father Markey chant the Passion of Our Lord according to St. Matthew