Dear friends in Christ

With this Fifth Sunday, we begin the period of Lent known as Passiontide. The emphasis of this sacred season moves from the consideration of personal conversion to our contemplation of the face of Christ in His Cross and suffering, It is a time of the year full of drama and pathos - our churches appear sombre with their purple drapes - as we move towards The Week in which will be accomplished all of the central event of our salvation. How should we view this time? Above all, it is a moment to be with Jesus, accompanying Him in the Way of the Cross, trying to learn lessons for ourselves, so that we might imitate Him in all of His virtues. We can only rejoice and celebrate Easter and the new life promised us, if we have trod the road to Calvary. Each of us has a Via Crucis or Calvary in our own lives; a weakness, sickness or mental suffering which we need the strength to bear. Ask Our Lord in these days now, for the fortitude to continue bravely with whatever it is we face; for the courage and grace to remain with Him, along the Way of the Cross, and beside the Cross on Calvary. We will always find Mary there too, with Jesus and with us, as we make our way on pilgrimage homeward. God bless you all and grant us the grace to persevere in these final weeks of Lent.

fr Kevin Hale