Category Archives: Holy Week

Donkey, Wood, Wood, Stone

Holy Week

It’s now just two weeks to Palm Sunday, and therefore three to Easter Sunday. The services of the Sacred Triduum or Three Days – of Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday afternoon, Saturday evening and Easter Sunday are best seen as a single feast. These liturgies have a special and memorable character and deserve our best efforts for their celebration. They also deserve the best efforts of all of us to take part in them!

But what about where they took place, these saving events that we celebrate in Holy Week? I mean where specifically…

If you think about it the answer is quite extraordinary. Where was Jesus on Palm Sunday? Yes, he was entering the great city of Jerusalem – but on the back of a donkey! Where did He institute the Eucharist and the Priesthood? Again, in an upper room in that city – but he left us the Sacrament of the new and everlasting covenant on a wooden table, probably bare and rough. Where was the final altar on which He offered himself for us, and for our salvation? A cross of even rougher wood… And finally where precisely did the Resurrection take place, where did the Eternal Father raise His Son from the dead in the power of the Holy Spirit? On a slab of stone in someone else’s sepulchre, in darkness, on His own.

So, on a donkey, a humble wooden table, an even humbler Cross, and on the stony coldness of a grave slab. These are the places where these great moments took place, events which changed the world and brought us salvation. You couldn’t get locations more simple, could you?

So we now have a couple of weeks to prepare for the opportunity to renew our faith at its very sources. What do these profound occasions mean to you? Perhaps remembering their simple locations will help you home in on the heart of Holy Week. This in turn will help you home in on the heart of our Faith. What do you make of a God who triumphs on a donkey, gives us the gift of himself on some wooden planks, dies on some others, and rises on cold, dark stone?

Familiarise yourself with the services beforehand, reflect on the readings, and make every effort to come to the churches where they take place. Most of all, watch Jesus in this holiest of weeks, because this – all of this – was done for you!

Fr Matthew

Jerusalem of the heart

Holy Week

We come now, with Palm Sunday, to the beginning of Holy Week. I recently read of a very interesting approach to Holy Week. I like the idea that what was happening ‘out there’ and ‘back then’ as Christ entered Jerusalem, is also happening ‘in here’ and right now’. We can say that there is a “Jerusalem of the heart”. This inner life also has its temple and its palaces, its places of corruption, its gardens of rest, its seat of judgment.

Here Malcolm Guite invites us to walk with Christ. And let him walk with you on both an outer and an inner journey that leads to the cross and beyond. Read and reflect …

Now to the gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start;
They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing, And think the battle won. Too soon they’ll find
The challenge, the reversal he is bringing
Changes their tune. I know what lies behind
The surface flourish that so quickly fades; Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,
And at the core, the dreadful emptiness
Of a perverted temple. Jesus come
Break my resistance and make me your home.

From Sounding the Seasons, by Malcolm Guite, Canterbury Press 2012

Please make every effort to take part in our Holy Week services, especially the Sacred Triduum, of Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday afternoon and Holy Saturday night.

Fr Matthew

Most Holy of weeks

Holy Week, lent

In just three weeks we will be celebrating Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. The last days of that week, the Sacred Triduum, lie at the centre of our Catholic year, taking us to the very roots of our faith. We should make every effort to celebrate these unique days together as one. So here are some details…

Cardiff Deanery Station Mass Thursday 6 April at St David’s College 7pm. Catholics from all over Cardiff gather with our priests and Archbishop to prepare for Holy Week.
Palm Sunday 9 April Masses at normal Sunday time, with blessing of palms at all celebrations. Chrism Mass Wednesday 12 April St David’s Cathedral 11.30am. People from all over the diocese gather with all our priests, deacons and Archbishop. Priests renew our ordination promises and the sacramental oils are blessed and consecrated.

THE SACRED TRIDUUM

Mass of the Lord’s Supper Maundy Thursday 13 April 8pm at St Brigid’s. We remember the Last Supper by celebrating the Eucharist together on the evening when it was instituted. We also give thanks for the priesthood and, inspired by the Washing of Feet we renew our commitment to service. Mass is followed by Watching at the Altar of Repose until midnight.
Commemoration of the Passion Good Friday 14 April 3pm at both St Paul’s and Christ the King. On this solemn day we remember the suffering and death of Our Lord. Please note that there will be Children’s Liturgy at both of these Services.
Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter Saturday 15 April 8.30pm at Christ the King. The climax of Holy Week and Lent as a whole. We start outside for the blessing of the Easter fire and Paschal Candles, and move into the Church for the Exsultet, our remembering the journey of God’s People through the Old Testament, the Easter Gospel, the Baptismal Rite including the Baptism and Confirmation of James Sibbald and renewal of our own vows – and, of course our Easter Eucharist. Not to be missed…
Easter Sunday 16 April Normal Mass times.
Please take note of these dates, times and places in order to avoid confusion. Let’s make this Holy Week truly the high point of our year – together.

Fr Matthew

Christ the King bidding prayers, Easter Sunday 5 April 2015

bidding prayers, Christ the King, Holy Week

Priest: On this blessed day, we rejoice in Christ’s Resurrection and our Redemption from sin and death – how wonderful is God’s care for us! Let us turn to him and pray for the church and for the world.

Sophia: We pray for the Church: for our Pope Francis, for our Archbishop George, Canon Matthew, Father Tomy, Father Ray and all priests and religious –
that they will be filled with Easter joy and renewed in faith and hope.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

George: We pray for our 3 Churches community, that we may all walk in Easter light, and bring the light of Christ into the world.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Mair: We pray for peace among nations, and especially for an end to conflict and suffering among the people of the Holy Land.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

Emily G: We pray for people who are poor around the world: that they may be filled with hope as they struggle to change their lives for the better.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Olivia: We pray that young people may be inspired to give generously of their time and talents in the religious life.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer

Tom C: We pray for those who have been baptised this Easter -may they know true peace and joy and be faithful to their promises. We pray especially for Georgia Rose Hill who we welcome into our Parish community this weekend.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Katie: Let us pray for those who suffer in mind, body or soul, that Christ who has risen with healing in his wings will comfort and sustain them.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Lowri: We pray for those who have passed over from the darkness of death into the glorious light of heaven, may they rest in peace.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Our Lady had come through much sorrow to her joy in the Resurrection let us ask her to join her prayers to ours Hail Mary………

In silence let us remember our own intentions

Priest:  Heavenly Father, filled with Easter joy, we make our petitions for those in need; hear and answer our prayers through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Christ the King bidding prayers, Palm Sunday 29 March 2015

bidding prayers, Christ the King, Holy Week

PRIEST – As we start Holy Week leading up to the remembrance of our redemption by the Passion and Death of Our Saviour  we gather in prayer to our Heavenly Father and ask Him to hear and grant our petitions

Reader – The response to our prayers is – “ Hear our prayer “

We pray that the call of our Holy Father Francis for peace and mercy in the world may be heard by those intent on waging war and violence on their fellow human beings and bring an end to destruction and misery….pause

Heavenly Father in your mercy……….

We pray that those who work to relieve suffering and hardship may be strengthened in their efforts and that the wealthier nations of the world may ensure that they have the necessary support…..pause

Heavenly Father in your mercy…………..

We recall how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by large crowds and pray that our efforts to evangelise in this area will lead to people welcoming Jesus into their lives, but without the subsequent rejection which Jesus experienced so soon after his triumphant entry to Jerusalem……..pause

Heavenly Father, in your mercy………..

We pray for  eternal rest for the souls of those who have recently died, in particular Gareth Clarke, grandson of Dilys Scanlan and Keith Allen and for the comfort of their bereaved families and friends………..pause

Heavenly Father, in your mercy………

Let us pray for all who are ill, infirm or disabled in any way that they may experience healing comfort and compassionate care…………pause

Heavenly Father, in your mercy……….

In a few moments of silence we pray for our own needs…….longer pause

We ask the support of our Blessed Mother, Mary, as we say….Hail Mary

PRIEST – We makes all our prayers through Jesus, our Saviour…..Amen