A Holy Week Pilgrimage in Boston

*This article documents the activities that took place during last year's Holy week (2019).

A Christian version of the Seder meal on Holy Thursday is followed by the rhythmic chanting of the Jewish Passover Dayenu prayer. The ancient prayer had Brothers and students gathered at our house exclaiming, It would have been enough for us! after reciting a series of blessings given to us by God. 

“Chanting Dayenu over and over again reminds us that God has done so much for us,” said Br. Austin, campus minister at Northeastern. “Even though we are not entitled to His love, He takes great delight in pouring out His blessings.” 

Following Holy Thursday Mass, students prayed in a room at our Catholic Center set up to represent the Garden in Gethsemane. Students then embarked on a pilgrimage to the Prudential Chapel, St. Clements and Mission Church. Throughout their walk along Boston’s busy sidewalks they played music and sang songs, with several people joining in. 

The pilgrimage continued on Good Friday when several students joined the Brothers on a walk to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for prayer. 

This was followed by attending an Ecumenical Service at Park St. Church, after which everyone walked back to Northeastern and prayed the Stations of the Cross in the middle of the Student Quad. 

After enjoying a simple meal of tomato soup and matzo bread, students prepared to attend the Good Friday Service. Upon returning to our Catholic Center, nearly 20 students watched the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion.” 

“We paused the movie after each sorrowful mystery of the Rosary was represented in the film and prayed a decade of the Rosary meditating on the mystery just watched,” said Br. Austin. 

“The combination of watching Christ’s passion dramatically played out in the movie and hearing the students pray the Rosary was a powerful witness.” 

Our Triduum activities concluded on Holy Saturday with students praying the “Ancient Homily” at a local cemetery, eating dinner together and attending our Catholic Center’s Easter Vigil Mass. Then in good Catholic fashion, the students and staff celebrated the start of Easter with a reception of snacks and deserts at our Catholic Center.

It was a grace-filled week!