Vancouver, March 24.– St. Mary the Virgin South Hill-Anglican, like many Christian churches, celebrated Palm Sunday to mark the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This is the event that starts the most sacred week in the Christian calendar, the  Holy Week, that ends with the death of Jesus on the cross, and his Resurrection.

The congregation, holding their palm fronds and palm crosses, assembled outside the church for the Liturgy of the Palms. At the Blessing of the Palms, everyone raised and waved their braided palm fronds and crosses as Rev. Expedito Farinas went around the crowd and blessed them with holy water.

The members of the Altar Guild and the Choir led the singing and the procession of the congregation back to the church sanctuary for the Palm Sunday service.

At a prayer rally later that afternoon, the message of Rev. Farinas was read by Jaela Villegas of Migrante BC. In his message, he shared “Psalm 85:11 says: ‘Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other’, reminding us that there is no justice without peace, and equally, no peace without justice.”

“Peace is related to the well-being of people, to their health and prosperity which of course implies stability and friendly relationships among countries and individuals. Peace is an act of God and a gift from God. Peace, understood from a Christian perspective, is surely the well-being, the health, the state of being set right with God, even though suffering is involved.”

“Peace, like justice, is an act. We are required to do justice and to make peace. God has told us what is good and what God requires of us. Do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. I encourage you to promote social justice. Jesus is our model when he said, I am the way, the truth and the life.”

St. Mary the Virgin South Hill-Anglican is located at 808 East 50th Avenue, Vancouver.###