The Holy Week Prayer Service was planned to be led by the Year 12 girls who were in pairs and were designated a classroom to conduct the Prayer. However, due to severe weather conditions, the event reverted to being delivered online via Zoom. The Year 12 girls had prepared for their leading of the Prayer Service and were disappointed that this opportunity was lost. Nevertheless, we extend our thanks to Year 12 for accepting the challenge and for being prepared to show their leadership in this way. Perhaps there will be another opportunity later in the year for a similar event.

The Holy Week Prayer Service called to mind the key events of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and the Last Supper, and Good Friday and the Crucifixion of Jesus. We recalled that Palm Sunday was the occasion when Jesus was received by the people as their King. They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “Rejoice in our Saviour”. The people saw Jesus as a conquering king, ready and willing to fight the Romans and save his people. How wrong they were about the type of King Jesus is. Within a week, the same people who laid palm branches on the road and hailed Jesus as their king were now ready to have him arrested. Knowing this, Jesus called his friends together for a final meal which we now know as the Last Supper.

The gift of the Last Supper is now our eucharistic meal, which is the gift of Jesus—his very self, offered to us in the form of bread as spiritual food. In offering himself to us in the form of eucharistic bread, Jesus urges us to “Be not afraid”. The Fr Kevin Bates song “Take and Eat” was recorded by the Year 12 Music class for this occasion. Their rendition of “Take and Eat” is absolutely beautiful and delivered a reverent tone to this part of the Holy Week Prayer Service.

Following our recollection of the events of Holy Thursday and the Last Supper, we focused on the next day of Holy Week which is Good Friday. It is strange that the day on which humanity put Jesus on the Cross to die is referred to as a “good” day. Perhaps it is because very soon afterwards, God made something very good come from Jesus’ death. Christians understand that Jesus’ dying on the Cross is a powerful expression of God’s compassion and God’s capacity to forgive.

Good Friday, however, is not the end of the story. We eagerly anticipated Easter Sunday, the great celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.

Upon our return to Term 2, we celebrated Easter and Christ’s resurrection with resounding “Alleluias” and with much joy. On this occasion we were able to gather as a worshipping community in the College MSC. We were able to sing together in praise of our Risen Lord. Reflecting on the meaning of Easter, we understood that the word “easter” is believed to be an ancient word for “springtime”. Easter is a time of newness—a time for being reborn; a springtime. The Christian message at Easter is all about life, being alive, being reborn, coming to a new state of being. The Easter message is a message about all of life, as life is the cycle of birth and rebirth; the cycle of dying to our past self and rising to a new self as we constantly evolve and change. This cycle of dying to an old self and rising anew to a better self is the dying and rising dynamic in all of life.

Let us live Easter in our hearts all the days of our life.

Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator