By Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean

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We journey through the final days of Lent and on to Holy Week and the celebration of Easter throughout the course of the month ahead, and the solemn liturgies celebrated in the Cathedral really emphasize the meaning and great importance of this time for us all.

 

We begin Holy Week on 13 April gathering outside the Cathedral, weather permitting, for the blessing of Palms at 11am. This is one of the two days in the year when the passion narrative is sung (the other being Good Friday), which heightens the drama and meaning of the narrative. On Palm Sunday evening at 7:30pm, there is a special Holy Week Tenebrae Service.

 

On Wednesday evening, we gather as an archdiocesan family to take part in the Mass of Chrism at 7:30pm. At this service, the priests renew their commitment and the oils that are used in parishes across the archdiocese for the celebration of the Sacraments are blessed.

 

The three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday all begin with a Choral Office of Readings and Morning Prayer at 10am. They help to define a structure of prayer throughout these days focussing on the suffering, death and resurrection of the Lord. The Evening celebration of the Lord’s Supper is both a thanksgiving for the gift of the Eucharist and a renewal of dedication to follow Christ through lives of service, and this concludes with watching until 10pm. On Good Friday, Bishop Williams will lead a service of Stations of the Cross after the sung office and Archbishop Malcolm will preside in the afternoon at the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm.

 

Late on Holy Saturday evening at 9pm, our Easter Vigil begins outside the main entrance of the Cathedral with the blessing of the Easter Fire and procession to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. During this celebration, many adults who have been through a long period of preparation will be baptised or received joyfully into full communion with the Catholic Church. Our Easter Sunday Mass times are as a normal Sunday, and we have a special Easter Choral Evening Prayer at 3pm for Easter Day.

 

I wish you all a very happy Easter