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31 March 2016
Edition #75
EASTER 2016: Christ is present,
close to us, says Archbishop Costelloe By Jamie O’Brien
THERE ARE two words which can help us as we seek to allow the mystery of the Easter Vigil to enter into our own daily lives, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe told the congregation who last weekend gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral for the Easter Vigil. The first is ‘fidelity’ and the second is ‘presence’, the Archbishop continued. “Jesus died on the cross because he was, above all else, a man of fidelity,” he said. “As disciples of Jesus, and that is what brings us to the Cathedral tonight, we too are being called to live faithful lives in imitation of him: faithful to God, faithful to his Church, faithful to our families and friends, faithful to our brothers and sisters who, together with us, make up the family of humanity.” The Archbishop went on to
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe holds his candle during the liturgy of light at the commencement of the Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral on 26 March 2016. PHOTO: RON TAN
explain that during his lifetime, Jesus was not always surrounded by faithful followers, but that if we read the Gospels carefully, one thing becomes very clear: Jesus never fails his failing disciples. “He never walks away from them, even when they walk away from him. And he will never walk away from us, no
Archbishop Costelloe washes the feet of a member of the congregation at the Holy Thursday Mass on 24 March at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: RON TAN
matter how often we seek to distance ourselves from him.” “Jesus is present to us, close to us, always holding his hand out to us, and never willing to give up on us. Ultimately this is what the resurrection is all about.” The Archbishop concelebrated the Vigil with Vicar General Fr Peter Whitely, Cathedral Dean Mgr Michael Keating, Fr Brennan Sia, Fr Greg Donovan, Fr Jeffey Casabuena, Fr Richard Rutkauskas and Fr Michael Quynh Do and Deacon Paul Russell. The celebration also included the baptism of 13 catechumens and welcoming into the Church of two candidates. Another two were also confirmed. In parishes across the Archdiocese of Perth, Easter was celebrated with much peace, reverence and renewed focus on the risen
Christ – with several parishes responding to the invitation by The eRecord to send in news and photos. Glendalough Parish reported four new members being received into the Church, with the sacrament of initiation being conferred on Yvonne Chia, together with father and son Mark and Dylan Scoby-Smith, while Szyka Anne Stevens received her Confirmation and First Communion. At Good Shepherd Parish Lockridge, ALIVE Youth Ministry presented the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Youth leader Samuel Smith said the occasion is a time for the people of the parish to witness the final moments of Jesus life, and to sit and contemplate his message of love. Full Text available at
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