Easter 2021: Holy Week and Easter Sunday Services in Dedham

DEDHAM, MA — Easter celebrations across the country and in Dedham will look different from ever before in 2021 as traditional events such as egg hunts, religious services and restaurant deals will go on virtually as well as in person.

In Dedham, you'll be able to find both in-person and virtual services for Holy Week and Easter. Check the church's website for updates before heading to a service. This list includes congregations that listed special Holy Week and Easter Services.

St. Mary's of the Assumption:

25 Avery Street Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-0550
[email protected]

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, April 1

• 7 p.m. - Mass with a Eucharistic Procession to St. Mary's Hall (Lower Church)
  • Adoration will take place afterward, until 10 p.m.

Good Friday, April 2

• 8 a.m. Morning Prayer
• 10 a.m. Stations of the Cross
• 12 p.m. LifeTeen Presentation of The Seven Last Words of Christ
• 3 p.m. Passion Service
• 7 p.m. Passion Service

The Great Vigil of Easter, April 3

• 8 a.m. Morning Prayer
• 12 to 1 p.m. Confessions in Church
• 7 p.m. The Great Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 4

• 7 a.m. Main Church
• 9 a.m. Main Church and Mary Hall (Lower Church)
• 11 a.m. Main Church and Mary Hall (Lower Church)

Saint Susanna Parish

262 Needham Street Dedham, MA 02026
781-329-9575
[email protected]
Liturgies will be celebrated online, but Easter Sunday parishioners can attend mass in the parking lot of the church in addition to the online service option.

• Holy Thursday, Eucharist, April 1 at 7 p.m.
• Good Friday, Stations, April 2 at 12 p.m.
• Easter Vigil, Stations, April 3 at 7 p.m.
• Easter Sunday, Eucharist, April 4 at 10 a.m. (online and parking lot)

The Church of the Good Shepherd

62 Cedar St. Dedham, MA 02026-3237, Oakdale Square
781-326-3052
[email protected]
In-person services have been canceled until further notice, but congregants can watch services on the Facebook livestream.

• Holy Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
• Good Friday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
• Easter Vigil, April 3 at 7 p.m.
• Easter Sunday, April 4 at 10 a.m.

St. Luke's Dedham

950 East Street Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-1346
[email protected]

St. Luke's is typically holding in-person, limited attendance services on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. — reservations required. This Sunday, they're switching it up for a drive-in 9:30 a.m. service for Easter.

Watch the livestream of the services on YouTube or Facebook.

Allin Congregational Church

683 High Street Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-5050
[email protected]
Email the church to get the Zoom link for virtual services.

• Good Friday, April 2 at 7 p.m. (virtual)
• Easter Vigil, April 3 at 7 p.m. (in-person and virtual)

The First Church and Parish in Dedham

670 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-7463
[email protected]

Easter Sunday, April 4 at 9:45 a.m.
The church's bulletin says that services are virtual, but as the weather warms up they may take place on the church green. There could be an Easter egg hunt with cake and punch on the green this Sunday, weather permitting.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

9 Court Street Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-4553
[email protected]

• Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m., Facebook Live
• Good Friday, April 2 at 12 p.m., Facebook Live
• Easter Day, April 4 at 10 a.m., Facebook Live

Mostly religious services went virtual during the Easter season last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was still fairly new and most states remained under strict shutdown orders in mid-April. This year, there’s more of a combination of virtual and in-person services taking place with the pandemic having passed the one-year mark

Many major American archdioceses, such as in Chicago, will continue to hold virtual services that will be streamed throughout Holy Week, which includes the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays leading up to Easter.

Good Friday, on April 2 this year, marks the death of Jesus Christ. Easter, two days later, celebrates the time when he was resurrected. The Sunday holiday always occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Religious traditions on Good Friday include periods of silence and fasting for many Christians, prominently in the Catholic faith.

Fairfax United Methodist Church in Virginia is also streaming its Holy Week services, with an in-person service offered to a limited number of attendees on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.

Many Protestant churches will have their traditional sunrise services with social distancing in mind. The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is having its services on Easter morning, while the Colorado Council of Churches canceled its service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and instead will have Bishop Kym Lucas of the Episcopal Church in Colorado lead a virtual service.

One of the most celebrated Easter traditions outside of church is the Easter egg hunt, many of which were canceled last year but will return in some form in 2021. In La Grange, Kentucky, an egg hunt is planned in conjunction with a drive-in theater and movie; and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, already held its egg hunt over two sessions, with early sign-ups required.