Dear Friends in Christ

This Sunday at Mass we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to begin the days of His Passion. We listen again to Saint Matthew’s account of the Passion. My favourite words on Holy Week are of St Albert the Great: One tear shed over the Passion of Our Lord is worth more than a whole year of fasting on bread and water. Maybe that tear will come as we listen to the account of Passion this Sunday or on Good Friday; or when we meditate on the Way of the Cross, or gaze upon the Crucified Lord and kiss the Cross on Good Friday. Perhaps it may come when we feel the pain of separation from the Sacraments and Holy Communion in these days of trial. Whatever our experiences this Holy Week, we must not let it pass as though life is on-hold. I suggest that we try to follow the liturgies of this Week as best we can. Use one of the resources available like Magnificat (which you can access free online) or the App Universalis (for the Divine Office and liturgy). Take one of the blest palms which you can collect from the outside altar in the Memorial Garden of the church. Set up a simple altar at home so that as families there is a focal point for our prayer this week. Have the crucifix centrally placed and together follow the live-streaming of the Paschal Triduum Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday I shall have to celebrate alone in the church for the first time in my life! As I stand at the Altar each day alone, I know that I am surrounded by the Saints and Angels, and that even without the physical presence of you, the Faithful, I am comforted to know that so many of you are following as best you can. By these efforts we can relive the events of Holy Week with deep faith and piety.

Holy Week brings home to us that we are in need of the Redemption ever more keenly in our time. At the end of the dark drama of Holy Week there is the brightness of the Risen Christ. Our world, whether it knows it or not, stands more than ever before, in need of the Redemption. Let us together try to follow Our Lord from His entry into Jerusalem, through to the Upper Room of the first Mass, to His sacrificial death on Calvary, to the tomb, and then finally to the glory of Easter Day. I pray for you all intensely at this time; pray for me, please!

God bless you as individuals and families and keep you safe!

Msgr Kevin Hale