St. David's Episcopal Church Brings Passion to Palm Sunday

Mirabel the Donkey leads procession at Wellington church service.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:03pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a church congregation processing down the aisle, with soft, blurred figures and pools of warm, golden light, conveying a reverent and celebratory mood.The joyful procession at St. David's Palm Sunday service brought a sense of sacred passion to the start of Holy Week.Wellington Today

St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church in Wellington, Florida celebrated Palm Sunday with a special service that featured a procession led by Mirabel the Donkey. The church's pastor, Father Matthew Tees, explained to parishioners that the donkey symbolized the one who came to spread peace.

Why it matters

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, a significant time in the Christian calendar. By incorporating symbolic elements like the donkey procession, St. David's aimed to bring a renewed sense of passion and meaning to this annual observance.

The details

The 10 a.m. Palm Sunday service at St. David's began with the traditional procession of palms, but this year the procession also included Mirabel the Donkey. In his sermon, Father Tees explained to the congregation that the donkey represented the one who rode it, coming to spread peace.

  • The Palm Sunday service took place on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • St. David's will hold its Easter Sunday services on April 5, 2026 at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The players

St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church

A church located in Wellington, Florida that celebrated Palm Sunday with a special service featuring a donkey procession.

Father Matthew Tees

The pastor at St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church who gave a sermon explaining the symbolic meaning of the donkey in the Palm Sunday procession.

Mirabel

A donkey that led the Palm Sunday procession at St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church.

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What they’re saying

“The donkey symbolized that the one who rode it, came to spread peace.”

— Father Matthew Tees, Pastor

What’s next

St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church will hold its Easter Sunday services on April 5, 2026 at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The takeaway

By incorporating symbolic elements like a donkey procession, St. David's Episcopal Church was able to bring a renewed sense of passion and meaning to its Palm Sunday observance, helping parishioners connect more deeply with the start of Holy Week.