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.

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.

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.'