Catholics gather across the archdiocese to mark Holy Week

In a connection to the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon Krzysztof Slowikowski holds a relic of St. Frances of Assisi before the start of the procession. Father Jason Torba, pastor, leads hundreds of parishioners of St. John Brebeuf Parish, in the Stations of the Cross through the streets of Niles on March 27, 2026. Individuals from different parish groups took turns carrying a large cross to each station, where prayers, reflections and songs were offered in English and Polish. In a connection to the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, first-class relics of St. Francis of Assisi and the St. Damiano Cross were carried in the procession. Mass followed the one-mile procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners raise the cross for the next station near in the parking lot of the church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

The procession heads toward the church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners raise the cross and kneel for the next station near Harlem Avenue. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners raise the cross at the church for one of the final stations. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Father Domingo Hurtado-Badillo blesses palms before a procession with parishioners at St. Paul Parish, 127 W. 22nd Place, during a procession lead by riders on horses to the church before Mass on Palm Sunday March 29, 2026. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago held outdoor processions on Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Hurtado-Badillo blesses palms parishioners are holding. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Hurtado-Badillo blesses palms parishioners are holding. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Horses lead a procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Father Mike Enright, pastor, plays a drum during the procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners carry palms as they make their way to church for Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Daughters of Divine Love Sr. Anastasia Mmeke reads the intentions during Mass. Parishioners gather at St. Moses the Black Parish, 331 E. 71st, for the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026. This Mass signals the start of the Easter Triduum, a three-day liturgy that culminates in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. During the Mass, Father Matthew O'Donnel, pastor, washed the feet of 12 parishioners, an act replicating Jesus washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jamal Lewis leads the singing during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Kevin Morris, director of music, leads the choir in praise music during the Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Father Matthew O'Donnel, pastor, washes the feet of 12 parishioners, an act replicating Jesus washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Soldiers keep the crowd away after they pull Simon to carry the cross for Jesus during the fifth station. Parishioners of Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan gather at Holy Family Church for a Via Crucis on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. Parishioners played various roles acting out the stations of the cross on the church lawn. Auxiliary Bishop Timothy O'Malley led the prayers in English and Spanish along with other clergy and parishioners. Stations of the Cross, also known as Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis, refers to depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. Following the event, the parish held a Good Friday Communion service and prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Jesus, portrayed by Marco Rodriguez, meets the women of Jerusalem in the eighth station who are weeping for him while he carries his cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Auxiliary Bishop Timothy O’Malley leads the prayers in English and Spanish along with other clergy and parishioners. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Parishioners kneel during the via crucis as Jesus dies on the cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Soldiers raise Jesus, portrayed by Marco Rodriguez, after nailing him to the cross in the eleventh station. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Frankie Pinon, portraying a soldier, looks up toward Jesus during the crucifixion in the via cricis. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Soldiers guard Jesus, portrayed by Marco Rodriguez, after nailing him to the cross in the eleventh station. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Mary cradles the lifeless body of Jesus following his death on the cross. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Joined by priests and deacons from the archdiocese, Cardinal Cupich blesses the fire and prepares the candle at the beginning of the vigil in the courtyard. Cardinal Cupich was the main celebrant during the Easter Vigil Mass with the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on April 4, 2026. Thirty-nine adults from the cathedral parish became full members of the Catholic Church during the celebration by receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation, as part of the OCIA process. Two babies were also baptized. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, 1,059 catechumens and candidates were expected to enter the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil, up from 696 in 2025, a 52% increase. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Members of the congregation hold candles which signifies the faithful receiving the light of the risen Christ, symbolizing the triumph of life over death and the spreading of his light into the world. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Candidate Jacob Bullock stands with his sponsor following the procession into the cathedral after the blessing of the fire outside in the courtyard. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Cardinal Cupich as questions to those preparing to be baptized. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catechumen Zach Bottomsis baptized by Cardinal Cupich. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Candidates and their sponsors line up in preparation to be confirmed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Abigail McCallum and Tiara Nadiu look on as Cardinal Cupich confirms Anneka Smith. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)