Cardinal Dolan: Holy Thursday A Day Of Joy And Sorrow
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Christians across the world are marking Holy Thursday.
The holy day commemorates the last supper of Jesus Christ, the final meal he shared with his disciples in Jerusalem before being betrayed and crucified.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan marked Holy Thursday by attending a food collection site in Washington Heights, run by the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. The group prayed together and blessed the food that would be distributed to 300 households.
"His coming here is a reinforcement that our religious values are not limited to church, but religious values mean we help our neighbors in need whether they be Catholic or non-Catholic because everybody is made in God's image and likeness," said executive director Msgr. Kevin Sullivan.
Later, Dolan will wash the feet of parishioners at St. Patrick's Cathedral as Christian tradition teaches that Jesus did for his apostles.
He told WCBS 880's Rich Lamb the day is a blend of joy and sorrow.
"As we think about our large last supper, giving us the holy Eucharist, giving us the magnificent witness of service as he washes the feet of his apostles, that brings some joy," Dolan said. "But it's blended with a somberness, because we know that his Passion is going to start afterwards."
Pope Francis held Mass in Rome, and will wash and kiss the feet of Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic migrants at a refugee shelter.
The holy day falls on the Thursday before Easter Sunday and is part of Holy Week.