From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 13th April, 2025

Hi everyone, and welcome to Holy Week.
Holy Week Beckons Us All On
We have ahead of us a very big week. Holy Week is the pinnacle of the Church's calendar, and the basis for all we believe as Catholics. For, as St. Paul tells us, "If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is pointless, and you have not, after all, been released of your sins” (1 Cor 15, 17). So, yes, it is a pretty big deal, and it merits your participation and presence at the Holy Week liturgies, enactments and Masses. I pray that this Holy Week will be a life changing event for all of us.

Thank You Dear RGCP Volunteers
I heartily thank all the volunteers and ministry personnel in advance for all your help and service all throughout the next seven days or so. The preparations for Holy Week are always very labour and time intensive. They have to be: ours is a large Parish and we still have all the Holy Week services at both of our Churches.

Volunteering at this time is also a particularly meaningful thing. In a very practical way, you will be imitating our Lord Jesus in his "washing of the disciple's feet" on Holy Thursday, and fulfilling his words: "If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you" (John 13, 13 - 15). The "washing the feet" was a humble act of service and of hospitality to visitors. So please be especially welcoming and mindful of all the visitors and "infrequent flyers" who will be 'gracing our pews' this week.

If you have not yet advised the Parish Office of your intentions to help out, please do so as soon as you possibly can. We have been advised that some of our volunteers from last year will be away during this Easter break, so we could certainly do with your help, particularly on Easter Sunday.

Holy Thursday and the "Visitation of the Seven Churches" Pilgrimage
As per last year, SCB Church has been included in the Archdiocesan list of Churches for the "Visitation of the Seven Churches" pilgrimage on Holy Thursday night. The Parish Hall will be set up for this Pilgrimage, and will be open until midnight with a special Altar and the Blessed Sacrament exposed. There will be some readings, hymns, and times of silent prayer to accompany our Lord Jesus that night. As he himself asked the disciples: "Stay awake, and pray not to be put to the test. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26, 41)

Extended Times For the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Holy Week
Times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be extended during what is known as the Easter 'Triduum' (or 'three days' in Latin - from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday) as follows:

SCB Church:
Good Friday: after Stations of the Cross:
from 11 am - 2.45 pm
and again after the 'Passion of our Lord'
from 4 pm - 6 pm
Holy Saturday: 9 am - 1 pm

OLQP Church:
Good Friday: After both the Stations of the Cross and the 'Passion of our Lord' (for a short time)

Parish Office Closed For Easter Break
Please note that the Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday and will reopen on Monday 28th April. If there are any truly urgent situations requiring attention, you may still reach one of our Priests on 0413 226 508.

And that's about it for now. I wish you all a blessed and happy Holy Week, and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the liturgies and Masses of the Triduum.

God bless,

Fr. Greg