On Sunday we begin the celebration of Holy Week, when we remember Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, offer praise on Good Friday for the love of God which saw His So die on the Cross as our Saviour, and then celebrate the resurrection from the Dead on Holy Saturday night and Easter Sunday.  This week really marks the centre point of our faith – all that Christ came to do, all that Christ has given us to follow – the example of service, the example of love and the promise of life.

This year Holy Week will be very different for us all as we have to continue to stay at home and join privately in the ceremonies.  But this year we unite all our prayers in a special way for all those who need God at this moment.  For our health workers, carers and all those who brave life for us at the moment, that they may have safety in the service they give, which really mirrors the service of Christ – laying their lives at risk for us all.  We pray for the lonely and those afraid who mirror the feelings Christ had on his last night in the garden and on the cross itself.  We pray for the bereaved who must know the feelings of Mary the Mother of God as she stood by the cross, practically alone as her Son died.  we pray for ourselves, that the hope that was born on that first Easter might fill us all with a little hope these times too – the hope that God will make all things right again in this world and the next.

So much of our prayer this week will be in the realm of blind faith, trusting completely in the God who loves us so much.  But that faith is a special gift, that faith can help us overcome all things, through time and trust.  Christ came to forgive, maybe this is our time to do the same.  Christ came to serve, and now we are all asked to do that in some way.  Christ showed us how to love, hard as it may be at times we can all make life better by trying.  Christ suffered, as so many do today.  And Christ conquered the world in quiet goodness.  Faith asks that we try to believe in all that, but also that we try to live it day by day.  This week let’s all make that effort.

Holy Week Ceremonies – Broadcast from the Church of the Holy Family

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7.00pm

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – 8.00pm – 9.00pm

Night Prayer – 9.00pm

Good Friday

The Passion of the Lord – 3.00pm

Stations of the Cross – 7.00pm

Holy Saturday

Vigil Mass of Easter – 8.00pm

Easter Sunday

Mass – 11.00am