MAUNDY THURSDAY: THE BEGINNING OF THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM

On April 2, a solemn Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marking the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, Bishop Vladimir Fekete. He was concelebrated by the Prefecture’s General Vicar, Fr. Józef Marek (SDB), the parish priest Fr. Martin Bonkalo (SDB), and the clergy of the Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In his homily, Fr. Józef Marek reflected on the three gifts commemorated on this day: the Eucharist, service in love, and the priesthood.

Following the example of Christ Himself, Bishop Vladimir Fekete performed the rite of the washing of the feet of twelve parishioners. This ancient gesture testifies that in the Church all authority and dignity are given not for domination, but for service expressed in love, even to the point of self-giving.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly transferred to the so-called “altar of repose,” a place of prayer where the faithful may remain with the Lord in silence and vigil, recalling His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.