Good Friday and Holy Saturday . . .

This was the scene greeting parishioners who joined together to pray the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday.  A bare church with a forceful reminder of what had happened yesterday on Good Friday - the Crucifix which we had venerated during the solemn liturgy taking centre stage on the stripped altar; our crucified Lord flanked on either side by the simplest of wooden candlesticks . . . 

It was encouraging to see a good number coming along to pray the Office together.  Not long afterwards our flower arrangers got to work to transform the barren space into a place of beauty, all ready to receive our Risen Lord at the Easter Vigil and the First Mass of the Resurrection this evening.

Here are just a few shots to give a flavour of how it looks but the photographs don't really do it justice.

Our Easter Garden . . . 

Still waiting  . . . 

St Ann . . .

And of course her daughter, Our Blessed Lady . . .

If you'd to see more, please join us for the Easter Vigil at 8pm this evening.  All are warmly invited!

Holy Thursday . . .

It is always a very moving liturgy on Holy Thursday, especially for the celebrating priest.  Last night's Holy Thursday Mass at St Ann's was no exception.  It was a very reverent Mass from the entrance procession, the Liturgy of the Word and the homily; the Washing of the Feet, or Mandatum; through to the procession to the Altar of Repose after Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altar after the silent exit of the celebrant and altar servers.

Here are just a few shots of our Altar of Repose to give an idea of the prayerful scene as many stayed behind to watch with Our Lord until Midnight.

And here is our Altar of Repose just after midnight when the Blessed Sacrament had been removed to a place of safety overnight.  Hats off to our florists for a beautiful and fitting display!

Finally, the sanctuary looking suitably bereft and desolate after a very reverent Stripping of the Altar by our altar servers.

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.

Surrexit Christus, alleluia!

Here are some photos from last night's Easter Vigil.

The liturgy of the Easter Vigil is always very special but it takes on another dimension when we are blessed to have Baptisms and Receptions in the parish. Last night we welcomed Thomas and Jordan who were baptised and made their First Holy Communion.

Congratulations too to Jenny and Ted and who were received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church after making their public Profession of Faith and receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.

I was delighted to see that we had record crowds on all three days of the Triduum despite all the 'goings on' in the media recently.

Naturally, we finished our celebrations in the parish hall with a glass of wine and an opportunity to chat to the newest members of our parish family.

So much work goes on 'behind the scenes' to make the Easter Triduum run as smoothly as it always does. I would like to thank everyone involved and finally to wish you all a joyful Easter and may the blessings of the Risen Lord be with you and your families and remain with you.

'The Lord has indeed risen, alleluia!'

Holy Thursday and Good Friday

Our Altar of Repose.

Taken at midnight last night after the Blessed Sacrament had been transferred to the sacristy.

'This is the wood of the cross, on which hung the Saviour of the world.

Come, let us worship.'

Easter Vigil - Welcome

Welcome to Kevin who was received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.

In the photo with Kevin are his sponsor Mark; Kevin's mother; his wife Jo-Anne and their three children.

Good Friday and Easter Vigil

The altar on Good Friday evening after the liturgy.




Holy Saturday morning and the 'ladies of the parish' are busy preparing for the Easter Vigil. Our new altar cloth must be ironed to make sure everything in church is looking at its best for the Great Feast of Easter.



The flower arrangers busy at work, smiling all the while.

One of many beautiful flower arrangements which will enhance the sanctuary for the greater glory of God.

The new altar cloth in situ, ready and waiting, as we all are, for the coming of our Risen Lord.

Holy Thursday

This photo of our Altar of Repose was taken at midnight on Holy Thursday immediately after the Blessed Sacrament was transferred.