Holy Week and Stations of the Cross in Parisian churches

Easter at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral

The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is an important Christian site and one of the most visited monuments in Paris.

Each year, 13 million visitors from all over the world step through its doors. In recent years, Notre Dame de Paris received a set of eight new bells for the north tower and a new great bell for the south tower.

These new bells first rang out for Palm Sunday celebrations in 2013.

Holy Week

Saturday 8 April 2017

• 6.30pm: mass with Blessing of the Palms
• 8pm: organ concert Paul CARR- soloist from Birmingham (GB)

Sunday 9 April 2017 (Palm Sunday)

• 8.30am: mass and Blessing of the Palms
• 10.30am: Blessing of the Palms. Procession and mass of the Passion Blessing of the Palms outside the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris presided over by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois
• 12.30pm: masses with Blessing of the Palms
• 4.30pm: Talk for Lent "Dieu est-il humain ?" ('Is God Human'), by Olivier Boulnois, philosopher, professor at EPHE
• 5.15pm: Time of prayer and presentation and adoration of the Holy Sacrament presided over by Mgr Eric de MOULINS-BEAUFORT

Holy Monday 10 April 2017

• 11am: Concert. Farnham Youth Choir (GB)
• 7.30pm-10.30pm: rehearsal for concert on 11 April

Holy Tuesday 11 April 2017

• 11am: Emmaus High School Concert Choir (GB)
• 8.30pm: Concert Ensemble vocal

Holy Wednesday 12 April 2017

• 6.30pm: ‘chrismale’ mass presided over by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois

Holy Thursday 13 April 2017

• 9am: morning service
• 6.30pm: mass in memory of the Last Supper

Good Friday 14 April 2017

• 9am: morning service.
• 10am-5pm: veneration of the Crown of Thorns.
• 12.30pm: Stations of the Cross presided over by Mgr Patrick Chauvet from the West end of the Parvis to the Cathedral
• 6.30pm: Service of the Passion presided over by the Archbishop

Holy Saturday 15 April 2017

• 9am: morning service
• 9pm: Easter Vigil

Sunday 16 April 2017 - Easter Sunday

• 11.30am: masses presided over by Cardinal André VINGT-TROIS
• 6.30pm: mass.

Monday 17 April 2017 - Easter Monday

Access to the cathedral is free 

The public can join in religious services. 

It is advisable to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before each service.

Easter at the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

The basilica of Sacré-Cœur is situated at the top of the Butte Montmartre. Previously a place of pagan worship, it became Christian after Bishop Denis was martyred in the 3rd Century. The basilica was built between 1875 and 1914 and is now a major religious site in Paris.

Sunday 9 April 2017  - Palm Sunday

• 10.30am: Solemn Mass (other masses at 7am, 6pm and 10pm)
• 4pm: Vespers

Holy Week

Holy Thursday 13 April 2017

• 10am: Solemn Mass (other masses at 7am, 6pm and 10pm)
• 7pm: Celebration of the Holy Supper followed by a vigil at the altar

Good Friday 14 April 2017

• 10am: Tenebrae
• 12.30pm: Stations of the Cross presided over by Monseigneur Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, Assistant Bishop of Paris. (Meet at Square Louise Michel)
• 7pm: celebration of the Passion
• 9pm: closing of the Basilica: Christ is at the tomb, no adoration of the Eucharist on this night

Holy Saturday 15 April 2017

• 10am: Tenebrae

• 9pm: Easter Vigil with christenings, confirmation and first communions during the service

Easter Sunday 16 April 2017

• 11am: Solemn Mass presided over by Monseigneur Jérôme BEAU, Assistant Bishop of Paris
• 4pm. Solemn Vespers.

List of Masses being held in the capital during Holy Week

List of Stations of the Cross organized during Holy Week in Paris

Easter isn’t just about chocolate and Easter egg hunts. It is first and foremost a religious celebration during which prayers, traditional scenes, and acts of faith take place.