Newsletter- 6th Week of Lent
Dear Parishioners
Holy Week: Today on Palm Sunday we begin our journey through Holy Week towards Easter. In Holy Week we think about the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord. We are not merely recalling historical events. We are not just enacting a pageant with no meaning. We are remembering and reflecting on these important events in order that we may ourselves participate more fully in the saving work of Christ and reveal His love to the world in which we live and in all the many different situations of our daily lives. Our Lord was offering himself to God His Father, offering His love which He expressed through – an obedience which included the acceptance of death. At the same time, He was passing through death to life so that you and I and all Christian believers might share in His risen life. Our call as Christs modern day disciples in the world in which we live now is to be fully involved in the offering of the love which Christ made upon the cross. In the sacrifice of the Mass, we are provided with that opportunity. Through all the sacraments of the Church, especially the Holy Eucharist, we receive the risen life of Christ; indeed, in Holy Communion we receive the very author of that life.
As we journey together through Holy Week again his year, we will come towards the end of the week to what we call The Paschal Triduum, three very special days, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Our chief thought on Maundy Thursday will be the institution of the Holy Eucharist or the Mass. On Good Friday we shall think of the offering Our Lord made of himself to his heavenly Father. On Holy Saturday we shall with great joy celebrate the risen life of Christ in which we all share as Christians.
A thought maybe to reflect upon as we make this journey together again over the coming days and share once more in the Churches ancient liturgies, is the sense that every time, we gather for the celebration of the Mass Holy Week is continued in its entirety. Do try this year to join as fully as possible with our parish community at St Mary’s in all the liturgies of this coming Holy Week, each day has its own special gift and grace to offer to us in helping us to live out more fully and more authentically our Christian witness and discipleship in the world.
PLEASE CHECK THE BULLETIN FOR ALL THE SERVICE TIMES DURING HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Stations of the Cross in Holy Week:
Wednesday in Holy Week (16th April) at 6 pm.
Good Friday (18th April) at 6 pm.
Chrism Mass – Wednesday in Holy Week – 16th April – 11.30 am – St Barnabas Cathedral – All parishioners from St Mary’s are warmly welcome to attend.
The Chrism Mass, on Wednesday of Holy Week, is during this Jubilee Year the final one of our diocesan Jubilee Lenten Station Masses, and Bishop Patrick looks forward very much to seeing the clergy of our diocese, together with the Religious and as many lay people from our congregations as possible at this special diocesan celebration. The numbers gathered for Mass this coming Wednesday will hopefully fill Saint Barnabas Cathedral to capacity! Please do arrive in good time, by 11am for Mass at 11.30 am. It will be, I feel sure, a beautiful Jubilee celebration in the life of our local Church.
Good Friday Retiring Collection: On Good Friday as you leave church after the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord there will be a retiring collection for the upkeep of the Holy Places in Palestine associated with Our Lord’s earthly life. Please do give as generously as you feel able to.
With prayer and best wishes for you and your families as we enter Holy Week and prepare for the joy of the Easter celebrations yet to come!
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2025 13th April – Newsletter – Download