Holy Week and Easter

Friends quite often comment to me that I must be so busy at Christmas.  I always tell them that actually Christmas can be quite a quiet, blessed and restful time in the parish and of course, it is such a joyful season.  I point out to them that it’s Easter that is the busy season but also a time of great blessing.  I really urge you to make the most of the great liturgies that lead to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

We begin on the evening of Maundy Thursday when the mass at 7.00 p.m. (the only mass of the day) celebrates the Institution of the Eucharist and the Mass at the Last Supper.  It is awe-inspiring to think that Jesus held up bread and wine before his disciples, blessed these ordinary elements and uttered words that are now said at every mass.

On Good Friday we recall Jesus’ Passion and Death and the long Gospel reading narrates the details of his Crucifixion.  This is the occasion when we have the opportunity to venerate the Cross.  How strange that we should come up to kiss an instrument of torture and execution.  How strange that we should call this Friday “Good”.

Then on Saturday evening, the Easter Vigil Mass begins the celebration of the Resurrection.  At this mass, people older and younger will be received into the Church and the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion will be received.  Light features prominently in this mass, as we move from the darkness of death to the brightness of new life.

The celebration continues in both churches on Easter Sunday morning where the great message is, “He is risen.”  Please do attend as fully as you can.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.