Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday for Christians, begins with Palm Sunday this Sunday. And sundown next Wednesday, April 8, is the start of Passover for those of the Jewish faith.
How can you observe these holy days in a coronavirus world?
Church attendance is out. Churches have suspended all community activities because of COVID-19.
Community seders are out for the same reason. So are extended family seders.
o how are religious institutions and the faithful in Hudson County coping?
In this internet age, there are options. Here are some we found:
Passover
Temple Beth-El in Jersey City has an extensive live streaming schedule on Zoom. For the schedule, visit the synagogue website at betheljc.org.
United Synagogue of Hoboken is also streaming some events and distributing seder in a box to those who have reserved it. For details, see the website at hobokensynagogue.org
Chabad of Bayonne has partnered with Five Star Catering to offer “Seder to Go” packages that can be ordered directly from the caterer. Go to chabadbayonne.org/sedertogo for more information. Orders must be placed by tomorrow, April 2. If you need financial assistance or if you know someone that could use help, email Rabbi Yisrael Bennish at [email protected] for a discounted or sponsored “Seder to Go.”
Holy Week
Many churches are live streaming or videotaping worship services that can be watched on the parish’s website, Facebook, YouTube or even Instagram. All are encouraging solitary prayer.
Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City, for example, is streaming Mass daily at 8:30 a.m. You can watch it on the church’s Facebook page.
Our Lady of Victories in Jersey City is also streaming Mass. Its Sunday Mass is available on its Facebook page at 10 a.m. and on YouTube later.
St. Aloysius Parish in Jersey City is streaming Mass on Facebook as is St. Augustine Church in Union City and St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church in Kearny. Go to the churches’ Facebook pages for information. Some of the churches are using YouTube as well to post messages and services.
Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph in Hoboken plans to live stream Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday Masses on Facebook and Zoom. The church will offer Mass on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m. in English and Spanish, respectively. The church will also live stream serviceds on Holy Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with the Good Friday service at 3 p.m. Both those services will be bilingual. Details of its streaming services can be found on its Facebook page as well as the church website.
St. John the Baptist in Jersey City is encouraging solitary, private prayer, but isn’t doing any live streaming. A spokeswoman said parishioners are encouraged to watch any of the Masses already being streamed.
“There are so many,” she said.
Newark Roman Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin is expected to stream Masses for Holy Week. No schedule has been posted for that yet, but a schedule of live streamed Masses throughout the diocese can be found at https://www.rcan.org/parish-mass-livestreams-and-more.
The listed churches are:
St. Vincent de Paul Parish – Bayonne
The New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate has weekly Sunday Mass through Zoom. Visit this webpage for more.
Our Lady of Grace/St. Joseph Parish – Hoboken
Ss. Peter & Paul Parish – Hoboken
In addition to Masses and rosary services, the parish’s music ministry and choir rehearsals are held weekly online through Zoom and a Virtual Prayer Book is offered for the faithful to write intentions to be prayed for during Sunday’s 10:30 a.m.
Holy Rosary Parish – Jersey City
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish – Jersey City
Our Lady of Victories Parish – Jersey City
St. Aloysius Parish – Jersey City
St. Joseph Parish – Jersey City
St. Nicholas Parish – Jersey City
St. Paul the Apostle Parish – Jersey City
In addition to daily Mass, the parish website offers Meditation Minute, a short reflection based on the current liturgical celebrations.
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish – Kearny
Ss. Joseph And Michael Parish – Union City
St. Augustine Parish – Union City
St. Rocco/St. Brigid Parish – Union City
Holy Redeemer Parish – West New York
Streaming Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. in Croatian and 1 p.m. in Spanish.
St. Joseph of the Palisades – West New York
In addition to Masses, bilingual Stations of the Cross with a devotion such as Holy Hour, rosary or divine mercy chaplet at 7 p.m. Fridays.
