FILM STIRS PASSIONS ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH MAY RISE THIS EASTER.Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer Their faith stirred by Mel Gibson's ``The Passion of the Christ,'' Christians across the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. were expected to observe this Holy Week in greater numbers and with greater fervor, church leaders said. Beginning with today's Palm Sunday Palm Sunday, in the Christian calendar, the Sunday before Easter, sixth and last Sunday in Lent, and the first day of Holy Week. It recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding upon an ass, when his followers shouted "Hosanna" and scattered palms in his path. services and culminating in next Sunday's Easter observances, thousands of local churchgoers - many of whom saw the Gibson blockbuster depicting Christ's final hours - will mark the holiest week of the Christian calendar. ``It will be very special this year,'' said the Rev. Noel Gorgis of North Hollywood's St. Paul St. Paul as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26] See : Bravery Assyrian Chaldean Church, where they still offer Masses in Aramaic, the ancient language Gibson uses in his film. With so many of his church's 1,000 members having seen and been stirred by the film, Gorgis said, he expects attendance all this week to be high than usual. So does the Rev. Paul Vigil, who will lead three Masses today at St. Catherine There are seven St. Catherines:
``This week takes on a different meaning in the aftermath of the popular movie,'' Vigil said. ``There's going to be a renewed interest.'' Gibson's movie, which has roused passions and controversy with its graphic depiction of Jesus' last 12 hours and crucifixion, has grossed more than $300 million in domestic box office sales since its Ash Wednesday opening. Many say the movie filled a spiritual void in popular culture and reconnected them to their faith. At pre-Palm Sunday services Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began when Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year old peasant girl from Lourdes, when questioned by her mother, admitted that she had seen a "lady" in the cave of Massabielle, about a mile from the town, on 11 February, 1858, while she was gathering Catholic Church in Tujunga, parishioners Gloria Mayol and Marie Blue said they both had seen the Gibson film and that it made this year's Lent and Easter observances more moving. ``It's magnified just how important this season is,'' said Blue, 67, a bookkeeper. ``It deepens your faith.'' ``I just feel like we're all a little bit more together,'' said Mayol, 65, a retired Tujunga resident. ``It just hits me a deeper in my heart.'' Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem Entry into Jerusalem first scene of Passion cycle in painting. [Art: Hall, 114] See : Passion of Christ before his trial and crucifixion. His path was strewn strew tr.v. strewed, strewn or strewed, strew·ing, strews 1. To spread here and there; scatter: strewing flowers down the aisle. 2. with palm fronds by his followers as he entered the city. It also marks the final week of Lent, 40 days of penance, reflection and fasting before Easter. On Easter Sunday, Christians believe, Jesus was resurrected following his Good Friday crucifixion. Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Parishoners from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Tujunga, above and below, make their way into the church on Saturday evening, carrying palm fronds as they symbolically re-enact re·en·act also re-en·act tr.v. re·en·act·ed, re·en·act·ing, re·en·acts 1. To enact again: reenact a law. 2. Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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