Details of the celebration of the Easter Triduum at St Ann's . . .

Please click on the picture for a clearer and larger version.

We look forward to seeing you.

Surrrexit Dominus Vere, Alleluia!

Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia. The Lord is truly risen.

A very Blessed and Happy Easter to all!

Easter preparations - What a transformation . . . !

After the very prayerful Office of Readings this morning, containing such beautiful readings, in a bare and 'empty' church, our flower arrangers bustled into action.

What a transformation!  I have said it before but it needs to be said often; we are blessed to have such gifted parishioners who are willing to give their time and use their talents for the glory of God in this way.  I am very grateful to you all.

 Wonderful!

 Flowers for Our Lady . . .

 Just look at the Paschal Candle stand!  A really fitting receptacle for such an important part of this evening's liturgy

 One of two magnificent pedestals either side of the altar

Two of our talented flower arrangers who happened to be available for a photo call this morning.  Well done ladies!

More photos later . . .

Holy Saturday morning . . .

And so we wait . . .

Holy Week and Easter . . .

Sadly we don't have the usual photos of our Palm Sunday Procession to post this year as the beginning to our Holy Week update.  The rain defeated us and we had to cancel our planned procession but we had a beautiful Palm Sunday Mass nevertheless.

Of course the Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper with the Washing of the Feet which is such a moving and humbling experience for a priest.

We watch with Our Lord up to Midnight.  Again, it is very emotional; entering the church, almost in darkness with the glow from the Altar of Repose and seeing people keeping watch with Our Lord in silent prayer; some kneeling, some sitting.

In fact, from a priest's point of view, I think the Chrism Mass at our Cathedral in Arundel is also a very moving liturgy and a precursor to the emotional journey we travel during the Triduum.

Our Easter liturgies are well under way now, having just Celebrated the Passion of the Lord and the Veneration of the Cross.  It was wonderful to see a full church and the way people entered into the solemnity of the liturgy with such reverence.  Our readers read well and the Gospel reading of the Passion narrated by our Deacon with individual parts read by readers from the body of the church was very moving, as always.

As a slight diversion from the liturgies of the Easter Triduum, we have for many years participated in an ecumenical Procession of Witness with other Christians in Banstead on the morning of Good Friday.  Once again, many people turned up to walk through the village following behind a large wooden Cross and stopping for a brief mediation at several 'Stations' along the way.

Here is a photo from today's Procession.  You can find many more photos on our parish Facebook Page

Now we are entering that quiet, desolate time in between the Crucifixion of Our Lord on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  We know what is awaiting us on Sunday; can you imagine what the disciples must have felt like not knowing this . . . ?

We enter into the tomb with Him and if you enter into our church in the morning tomorrow, I think you will immediately sense that something is missing . . .

The door of the tabernacle is open and empty for all to see.  The altar is bare and the whole atmosphere is one of emptiness and waiting.

Lent . . . Passiontide . . . The Easter Triduum . . .

Today after Mass, the ironing board was much in evidence as the veils were taken out and made ready for the veiling of the statues and the Crucifix.  

Hopefully we might have a photo or two to post tomorrow.

Our Lenten preparations move into a more intense phase as we enter Passiontide and move inexorably towards Our Lord's Passion, through Palm Sunday and the incredibly moving liturgies of the Easter Triduum culminating of course in Christ's triumph over death as we celebrate His resurrection at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening.

I hope that we're going to see a full church for all our Easter liturgies.

Here are the details of the Easter Triduum at St Ann's.  I look forward to seeing you.

Surrexit Christus, Sicut Dixit, Alleluia !

Holy Saturday is always a very busy day in any parish - and St Ann's is no exception. We started the day with the Office of Readings which is a wonderful prayerful way to begin this day of 'waiting'.

Afterwards, the church is invaded by numerous volunteers who all come together to decorate the church and transform it from its solemn, sombre state to a place of joyful beauty ready to greet our Risen Lord at the Easter Vigil.

Here you can see just a few of our parishioners who were busy both inside and outside St Ann's yesterday.

Here are just a few shots taken after Mass this morning. The church is looking beautiful. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make sure our church looked her best for this great Feast of Easter. Thanks too to everyone who really pulled out all the stops for the Triduum. The list is endless but YOU know who you are and I am very very grateful to you all.

Happy Easter everyone - Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Christus surrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia!

Christus surrexit,

sicut dixit,

alleluia!

Christ is risen

as he said!

Alleluia!

There is always a lovely atmosphere in the parish during the day on Holy Saturday . As soon as we have finished praying the Office of Readings in the morning, a veritable 'army' of volunteers springs into action to transform the stark, bare, Good Friday church into a glorious, exuberant setting for the celebration of the Great Feast of Easter beginning of course this evening with the Vigil and the First Mass of the Resurrection.

I am very grateful to the very many parishioners who do so much, not just at Easter time, but throughout the year to make sure that everything runs smoothly in the parish. I don't know where we would be without them.

Here are just a few photos taken recently to give a flavour of Easter in our parish.

The Altar of Repose. (Taken before Mass of the Lord's Supper)

Good Friday, after the Celebration of the Lord's Passion and Veneration of the Cross.

All ready to receive the Paschal Candle at the Easter Vigil.

One of the pedestals that stand either side of the altar.

The Easter Garden.

Flowers for St Ann.

And, of course, for Our Lady.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone who reads this little blog,

A very Happy Easter and every blessing for this Holy Season.

May the joy and peace of Our Risen Lord be with you and your families

now and remain with you.