Columbia church observes Palm Sunday

April 3, 2012 | 12:05 p.m. CDT

Congregations throughout Columbia gathered to observe Palm Sunday the week before Easter. Palm Sunday is in remembrance of Jesus' entrance to the city of Jerusalem and patrons are provided palm branches to be blessed during the Mass.

Laura Cox, 13, left, Madelinn Harvey, 13, Brendan Fish, 14 and Andrew Cox, 18 walk back to Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Sunday. Congregations from all over Columbia gathered together to worship as a part of the Christian holy day Palm Sunday. | Sam Gause

Patrons of Sacred Heart Catholic Church assemble in the back of church before Mass to celebrate Palm Sunday. | Sam Gause

Michelle Wiley hands out palm branches to congregants of Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Sunday as a part of the celebration of Palm Sunday. The Christian holy day falls on the Sunday before Easter. | Sam Gause

Gene Raiti holds up a palm branch that has been folded in the shape of a cross to be blessed by Father Simon Michalski on Sunday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Palm branches were distributed to patrons before Mass began to celebrate Palm Sunday, the Christian holy day that commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. | Sam Gause