LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS PRESIDED OVER BY POPE: FEBRUARY - APRIL

VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2003 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has made public the calendar of celebrations that are scheduled to be presided over by the Holy Father from February 1 to April 27, 2003:

FEBRUARY

- Saturday, 1, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Seventh Day of Consecrated Life. In the Vatican Basilica at 5:30 p.m. blessing of candles and procession; Mass with members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Society of Apostolic Life.

- Tuesday, 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the Vatican Basilica at 4:30 p.m., Mass for the "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi" and UNITALSI, presided in the name of the Holy Father by Cardinal Camillo Ruini. At the end of the celebration, the Holy Father will greet and bless the sick present in the basilica.

MARCH

- Wednesday, 5, Ash Wednesday. Mass and blessing and distribution of ashes in the Basilica of St. Sabina at 4:30 p.m.

- Friday, 7. Consistory for a number of causes of canonization in the Apostolic Palace at 11 a.m.

- Sunday, 9, First Sunday of Lent. In the Apostolic Palace, "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel at 6 p.m., beginning of spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.

- Saturday, 15. At 9 a.m. in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of spiritual exercises.

- Sunday, 23, Third Sunday of Lent. At 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, beatification of the following Servants of God: Pierre Bonhomme, Maria Dolores Rodriguez Sopena, Maria Caridad Brader, Juana Maria Condesa Lluch, Lazlo Batthyany-Strattman.

APRIL

- Sunday, 13, Palm Sunday; 18th World Youth Day. In St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m., blessing of the palms, procession and Mass.

- Thursday, 17, Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 9:30 a.m. At 5:30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica the beginning of the Easter Triduum; Mass of the Last Supper.

- Friday, 18, Good Friday. Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord in the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m. In the Colosseum at 9:15 p.m., the Way of the Cross.

- Saturday, 19, Holy Saturday. At 8 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Easter Vigil.

- Sunday, 20, Easter Sunday. Mass and "Urbi et Orbi" blessing at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square.

- Sunday, 27, Second Sunday of Easter. In St. Peter's Square at 10:30 a.m., beatification of the following Servants of God: Giacomo Alberione, Marco D'Aviano, Maria Cristina Brando, Eugenia Ravasco, Maria Domenica Mantovani, Guilia Salzano.

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