Friday-Saturday, April 25-26

St. Elias Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival

St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in Birmingham will celebrate its 27th annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. Admission is free to the festival which will feature homemade Lebanese food, traditional Lebanese dancing demonstrations by the youth, a silent auction, informative church tours, and live music. The church donates 25 percent of the proceeds to local and national charities. The church is located at 836 8th Street, South. For more information, please visit stelias.org.

Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6

Bloomin' Festival

The 41st annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair will be held on the campus of St. Bernard Abbey from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with an admission donation of $10 (children 12 and under free). More than 150 booths will be filled with artists demonstrating and exhibiting their unique handcrafted work. The festival serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the operation and maintenance of St. Bernard Preparatory School. St. Bernard’s monks will be there as well to sell their famous homemade bread and cookies. For more information, visit bloominfestival.com or call 256.739.6682. The abbey is located at 1600 St. Bernard Drive, Southeast in Cullman. 

Saturday, April 12

100th anniversary

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Wylam will mark its 100th anniversary of dedication with a Mass at 10 a.m. celebrated by Bishop Raica.

Sunday, April 13

Palm Sunday

Tuesday, April 15

Chrism Mass

Bishop Raica will celebrate the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul at 10:30 a.m. During the Mass, the bishop will consecrate the sacred oils to be used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and holy orders. Additionally, priests of the diocese will gather at this Mass to renew their priestly promises, showing their fidelity to their bishop and to Christ. 

Thursday, April 17

Rest in peace, Bishop Foley

The seventh anniversary of Bishop David E. Foley’s death. He was installed as the Diocese of Birmingham’s third bishop on May 13, 1994, and retired on May 10, 2005. May he rest in peace.

Thursday, April 17

Holy Thursday   

Friday, April 18

Good Friday

Saturday, April 19

Easter basket blessing

The Cathedral of St. Paul will hold Swieconka (Blessing of the Baskets) at 9 a.m. with Bishop Raica. Swieconka (sh-vee-en-soon-kah) is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions. Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen. This food is shared on Easter morning in a ritual breaking of the fast. For more information, please e-mail krista@stpaulsbhm.org. The cathedral is located at 2120 3rd Avenue, North in Birmingham.

Saturday, April 19

Holy Saturday

Sunday, April 20

Easter Sunday