Holy Week at Our Lady Of Lebanon Church in Johannesburg
Adoration during the Washing of the feet on Holy Thursday in the beautifully adorned Our Lady of Lebanon Church in south Johannesburg.
Text by Mark Kisogloo, Images: Fibrestream
Covid this year could not stop the zeal of Maronite parishioners at Our Lady Of Lebanon, South of Johannesburg.
Mass was well attended For Holy Week, while relatively subdued due only to covid restrictions the parish tried to keep things as “Normal” as possible, there was a procession on Palm Sunday which was well attended, Sunday eve saw the start of the mini-mission and the rite of reaching the harbour.
This time it was only Fr Jean Yammine ( parish priest ) and his assistants who stood outside and knocked on the door asking for salvation, under normal circumstances the entire congregation would be standing outside with them.
Palm Sunday procession around the church building. Right of Reaching the Harbour – Fr Jean Yammine Knocks on the door 3 times asking for mercy and to be let in
The theme of the mini-mission was titled “Walking with Jesus” with Fr Jean leading parishioners through Jesus’ passion providing plenty of food for thought.
Wednesday eve of Holy week in Maronite tradition is a special healing mass where oil is blessed and distributed to the congregation.
Covid presented a very different challenge to the washing of the feet on Thursday, Fr Jean lit twelve candles signifying the 12 whose feet were to be washed. Mass was followed by Adoration.
Wed Healing Mass – Fr Jean Yammine blessing the oil. Thurs Washing Of The Feet – Fr Jean lights a candle signifying the washing of the feet
Good Friday ( this in Maronite tradition is known as Great Friday ) began mass at 9am. The Maronite rite of Signing of the chalice was celebrated followed by stations of the cross in the church.
Under normal circumstances, the congregation would’ve moved in procession up to a cross on the hill opposite the church while saying the stations. The day came to a sombre end with the re-enactment of the Burial of Christ at 3pm in the afternoon.
Burial Of Christ – Fr Jean and assistants remove Christ from the Cross. Burial of Christ – Procession with the Crucified Body of Christ to his tomb
Christ was removed from the cross, laid to rest in a casket of flowers, Fr Jean and assistants carried the crucified Christ in procession around the church to the tomb in the corner where they laid him to rest until the resurrection mass on Sunday.
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