Below is a selection of photos from the Holy Week 2024 events and celebrations held by churches across the diocese.
Cowichan/Mid-Vancouver Island
Banner at St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
The choir singing at the Easter Sunday service at St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
Crown of thorns at St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
A parishioner wears an Easter bonnet at St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
Paige Fairweather (right) with her children at the St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus Easter Sunday service. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
Jodie Phillips with her lamb cakes. Photo by Nancy Warkentin.
A lamb cake made by St Michael and All Angels parishioner Jodie Phillips. Photo by Jodie Phillips.
The altar at St Mary’s, Nanoose Bay decorated for Easter Sunday. Photo by Harry Costerton.
Parishioners at St Mary’s, Nanoose Bay flower the cross. Photo by Harry Costerton.
Cross covered in spring flowers at St Mary’s, Nanoose Bay. Photo by Harry Costerton.
Flowered cross at St John the Baptist, Cobble Hill. Photo courtesy of Clair and Elaine Forestell.
St John the Baptist, Cobble Hill held a sunrise Easter Service at Brentwood College School in Mill Bay. Photo courtesy of Clair and Elaine Forestell.
Leslie Flynn (left), incumbent at St Philip’s, Cedar (Nanaimo), leading the Palm Sunday procession. Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
Foot washing during the Maundy Thursday service at St Philip’s, Cedar (Nanaimo). Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
An Easter garden showing the empty tomb, at St Philip’s, Cedar (Nanaimo). Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
A child places flowers on a cross at St Philip’s, Cedar (Nanaimo). Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
Children bring back the “alleluias” on Easter Sunday morning. Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
St Philip’s, Cedar (Nanaimo) sunrise service with Cedar United Church at Blue Heron Park. Photo by Elizabeth Razzo.
St Philip’s by-the-Sea, Lantzville Easter Sunday “Sonrise” service at Lantzville beach. Photo courtesy of Helen Taylor.
St Michael and All Angels, Chemainus parishioner brings family’s lamb cake tradition to the island
Words by Jodie Phillips
In 2017, while visiting my mom in Chicago and looking in her pantry, I discovered a two-piece cake mould. I recalled the years, as a child, when mom’s coconut and candy decorated lamb cake delightfully accented the dessert table at Grandma Emily’s Easter brunches.
Our family originated from Guardiagrele, Italy. The lamb cake tradition began in Poland and other European countries. The cake represents spring, purity and the precious Lamb of God. The lambs were placed on church altars among Easter baskets filled with fruits and bread, to be blessed during the Easter Sunday service.
Mom trusted me to retain our family traditions, even in Canada. In 2017, I married and moved to Chemainus. As time went on, at St Michael and All Angels I noticed “real bakers” gave their best, and from scratch. I quickly learned that this lamb cake deserved more prominence.
One day, a cousin sent our Italian family’s pound cake recipe. Perfect! Loaded with eggs, it is enhanced by almond and buttery icing, fruit and a satin bow. The lamb decor is complete with a bell and colourful jelly beans.
The “dainty” pound cake desserts fed a full house of parishioners after glorious Easter worship. Over 50 parishioners awaited with joy, sharing a sweet slice of tradition with their coffee, tea and precious church family. I am grateful and blessed to share this “made with love” tradition.
Western, Peninsula, Gulf Islands and Greater Victoria
St Michael and All Angels, Victoria on Easter Sunday. Photo by John Perris.
Parishioner Phyllis Fatt (left) holds a Paschal candle while John Perris (right), incumbent at St Michael and All Angels, Victoria, blesses it. Photo by Angela Goddard.
Maundy Thursday foot washing at St Andrew’s, Sidney. Photo by M. Van Zyl.
Juli Mallett (centre), associate priest at St Andrew’s, Sidney, and Kelly Duncan (right), incumbent at St Andrew’s, Sidney, light Pascal candles from the new fire on Holy Saturday. Photo by M. Van Zyl.
Parishioners at St Andrew’s, Sidney pose with their Easter bonnets. Photo by G. Skultety.
Celebrating Palm Sunday at Church of the Advent, Colwood. Photo by Elizabeth Garland.
Easter Sunday service at Church of the Advent, Colwood. Photo by Elizabeth Garland.
Cross with flowers at Church of the Advent, Colwood. Photo by Elizabeth Garland.
On Palm Sunday Christ Church Cathedral hosted a performance of Bach’s St John Passion with Victoria Baroque and the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral and St John the Divine, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Mark McDonald.
Palm Sunday service at St Luke’s, Cedar Hill. Photo courtesy of Sharon McMillan, Barb Prescott and Carol Turnham.
The choir enters the church during a Palm Sunday service at St Luke’s, Cedar Hill. Photo courtesy of Sharon McMillan, Barb Prescott and Carol Turnham.
A fir frond in a bowl at St Luke’s, Cedar Hill. Photo courtesy of Sharon McMillan, Barb Prescott and Carol Turnham.
A flowered cross on the sign outside St Luke’s, Cedar Hill. Photo courtesy of Sharon McMillan, Barb Prescott and Carol Turnham.
A flowered cross inside St Luke’s, Cedar Hill during the Easter Sunday service. Photo courtesy of Sharon McMillan, Barb Prescott and Carol Turnham.
Mid-North Island
Stephanie Wood (left), incumbent at St Peter’s, Campbell River, enters the church holding a palm branch. Photo by Trina Soltys
A cross at St Peter’s, Campbell River is shrouded in black. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Stephanie Wood, incumbent, carries a cross down the aisle of St Peter’s, Campbell River. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Stephanie Wood, incumbent at St Peter’s, Campbell River, places a cross in the sanctuary. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Stephanie Wood (centre), incumbent at St Peter’s, Campbell River, and parishioners gather round a holy fire. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Sunrise on Easter Sunday at Rotary Beach Park, Campbell River. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Stephanie Wood (left), incumbent at St Peter’s, Campbell River, and parishioners gather at Rotary Beach Park in Campbell River for Easter Sunday sunrise. Photo by Trina Soltys.
Stephanie Wood (left), incumbent at St Peter’s, Campbell River, conducts an Easter Sunday baptism. Photo by Trina Soltys.
The altar at St Edmund’s, Parksville decorated for Easter. Photo by Elizabeth Endersby.
A flowered cross at St Edmund’s, Parksville. Photo by Elizabeth Endersby.
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