ACTIVITIES PRESIDED BY THE HOLY FATHER: JANUARY-APRIL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 2005 (VIS) - Today, the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published the calendar for the celebrations that the Holy Father will preside from January 6th to April 16th 2006.

JANUARY

Friday, 6th: Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany. At 9:30 am in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass.

Sunday, 8th: Feast of the Lord's Baptism. At 10:00 am, in the Sistine Chapel, Holy Mass and Baptism of several children.

Wednesday, 25th: Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. At 5:30 pm in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, celebration of Vespers.

FEBRUARY

Thursday, 2nd: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, World Day for Consecrated Life. In the Vatican Basilica at 5:30 pm, blessing of the veils, procession and Holy Mass with the members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.

MARCH

Wednesday, 1st: Ash Wednesday. At 5:00 pm in the Basilica of Santa Sabina, Mass Blessing and imposition of the ashes.

Sunday, 5th: I Sunday of Lent, In the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel of the Apostolic Palace at 6:00 pm, the beginning of the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.

Saturday, 11th: At 9:00 am in the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel, conclusion of the spiritual exercises.

Sunday, 19th: III Sunday of Lent. At 9:30 am in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass for the workers.

Sunday, 26th: IV Sunday of Lent. At 9:30 am, pastoral visit to the Roman parish of God the Merciful Father. Celebration of the Eucharist.

APRIL

Monday, 3rd: At 5:30 pm in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass in memory of Pope John Paul II.

Sunday, 9th: Palm Sunday. At 9:30 am in St. Peter's Square, blessing of the palms and the olive branches, procession and Holy Mass.

Tuesday, 11th: Holy Tuesday. At 5:30 pm in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of Penance: Rite of reconciliation, with individual confession and absolution.

Thursday, 13th: Holy Thursday. At 9:30 am in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass of the Chrism. At 5:30 pm in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, beginning of the Paschal Triduum. Mass of Our Lord's Last Supper.

Friday, 14th: Holy Friday. At 5:00 pm in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of the Lord's Passion. At 9:15 pm, Via Crucis at the Colosseum.

Saturday, 15th: Holy Saturday. At 10:00 pm in the Vatican Basilica, Paschal Vigil during the holy night.

Sunday, 16th: Easter Sunday. At 10:30 am in St. Peter's Square, daily Mass with the "Resurrexit" rite. At 12:00 noon, from the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, blessing "Urbi et Orbi".
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