BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Holy Week has started for Christians everywhere. In downtown Baton Rouge, people gathered at St. Joseph Cathedral to celebrate Palm Sunday, a key moment on the liturgical calendar. Inside the historic cathedral, choir voices echoed in the sanctuary. Hundreds gathered in reverence to celebrate Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. This moment marks the start of His journey to the cross. “Sanctify these branches with your blessing,” said Bishop Michael Duca, as he blessed bundles of palm branches held high by worshippers. The tradition, which dates back centuries, is a cornerstone of Palm Sunday observances. Palm leaves symbolize peace and victory. They also remind us of Christ’s humility and sacrifice. “Palm Sunday is significant because it marks the beginning of Holy Week, in which we follow Jesus through his life, passion, death, and resurrection,” Duca said. For many at the mass, the day was for reflection, unity, and getting ready for Easter Sunday. Elizabeth Bentley-Smith, a member of the congregation, shared her takeaway from the service: “One of the things I took away from Mass today is that we always speak in the ‘we’ and not in the ‘I.’ I think that’s very important during this Lenten season—to remember that we are a community, and that we are a community of Christians here because Christ gave His life for us.” The sense of community filled every moment of the Mass. It started with the blessing of palms and continued with hymns sung together as one voice. Families, elders and children stood shoulder to shoulder, carrying on a tradition shared by generations. Where to find Easter egg hunts in, near Baton Rouge The palm leaves distributed at the service serve as a daily spiritual reminder. “We bless the palms as we call a sacramental reminder of this day,” Duca said. “Many people take the palms home. They put them behind a cross. They keep them as a reminder that every day we celebrate these mysteries.” As the service came to a close, many left the cathedral with a renewed sense of purpose and peace. For Baton Rouge’s Catholic community, Palm Sunday sets the tone for the week ahead. Latest News Sports fan makes it to Championship Sunday at the Masters Rory McIlroy wins 89th Masters Tournament, completing career Grand Slam Baton Rouge Catholics mark Palm Sunday with faith, unity and tradition 6 injured after explosion, house collapse in Austin Military schools offer test case for Trump education reforms ...read more read less