St. Rita Church, New Orleans, celebrates Palm Sunday

Father Peter Finney, administrator of St. Rita Church in New Orleans, blesses palms before parishioners enter the church on Palm Sunday, April 9. Father James Wehner, middle, pastor of St. Rita and rector of Notre Dame Seminary, looks on. Father Finney offered the prayer of blessing: “Almighty ever-living God, sanctify (sign of the cross) these branches with your blessing, that we, who follow Christ the King in exultation, may reach the eternal Jerusalem through him. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever…”