Remembering the day Jesus made his triumphant entry into
Jerusalem — Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday — every inch of space at Our Lady
of Angels Church in Woodbridge was filled April 14. Parishioners folded palms
into beautiful and ornate designs from crosses to hearts and flowers. Father
Alexander Diaz, parochial vicar, generously blessed the palms and parishioners
with holy water during a procession through the church.
A short time later, a second Mass was celebrated by Father
Zacarias Martinez, parochial vicar, in the school gym. Still more people than
fit in the church gathered on the parish grounds.
Parishioner Amalfi Martinez Parada recognized the
importance of the Palm Sunday Mass. “This is a time where we as Catholics
recognize that Jesus is our savior and that because of him today we have
salvation,” she said. “Today is the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem
and we as God’s people have to recognize that today is the most important day
in our lives — today and Holy Thursday, as well, when he instituted the
Eucharist.”
