A Palm Sunday tradition from one of my old neighborhoods

Gretna's Palm Sunday procession is an 81-year tradition

Published: Wednesday, April 04, 2012

By Helen Williams, Gretna Columnist The Times-Picayune

 

Continuing an 81-year Gretna tradition that began in 1931, a procession was held commemorating Palm Sunday, the start of the Christian Holy Week. Joining in spirit the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, St. Joseph Church’s pastor, the Rev. Rick Day, with blessed palms in hand, led a group of the faithful in prayer. He was assisted by Deacon Herman Williams.

A procession was held by St. Joseph Church's pastor, the Rev. Rick Day, commemorating Palm Sunday, the start of the Christian holy week. Escorting the procession was the Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus No. 322 and the Archbishop Blenk Council No. 1905. Mayor Ronnie C. Harris is standing, at left, with Day.

The procession started at the Jefferson Memorial on Huey P. Long Avenue, continued down the avenue and culminated in the celebration of Mass at the church.
A crucifix decorated with palms was carried by Benjamin Bartolome, altar server at St. Joseph, Christ the King and St. Anthony Catholic churches.
Escorting the procession was the Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus No. 322 and the Archbishop Blenk Council No. 1905, led by Color Corps Commander Glen Esteve.
The son of Benjamin and Alma Bartolome of Gretna, Ben Bartolome, is the 2012 male recipient of the Knights of Columbus Archbishop Blenk Council 1905 scholarship award.
Juliette Swiler served as lector for the Mass celebration and Charlie Jones was altar server.
In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves, often tied into crosses to the assembled worshipers as was done by ushers at St. Joseph Church.
The palms are saved in many churches to be burned the following year as the source of ashes used in Ash Wednesday services.
The Catholic Church considers the blessed palms to be sacramentals.
The vestments for the day are deep scarlet red, the color of blood, indicating the supreme redemptive sacrifice Christ was entering the city to fulfill: his Passion and Resurrection in Jerusalem.
In south Louisiana, palms are plentiful and easy to obtain. However, the difficulty of procuring palms for the day’s ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of box, yew, willow or other native trees.
Palm Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday, or by the general term Branch Sunday.