Dear Parishioners, and all of you who have joined with us in prayer during the past Holy week: Happy Easter! Thank you for journeying with us here in St Patrick's Parish. Thank you to all who helped us prepare for the various celebrations and all who participated in the Liturgies through the various ministries. Christ is Risen Alleluia. As a result we can also say (to quote Bishop Coll's Episcopal Motto) Christ Jesus is our Hope! We have remembered his suffering and death and now we go forward carrying the light of the risen one within us. Jesus is risen, he is alive. We meet the risen Lord in the here and now on the daily road of life. The Resurrection of Jesus enables us to look at life in a new way, to face trials and tribulations while still retaining hope that wounds will heal, that tears will dry, that hearts can be mended. The Resurrection enables to look on God's Creation with Wonder an Awe. The Resurrection enables us to live our Baptism in a way that makes us witnesses to the Love of God poured out for us on the Cross so we can pour out that same Love on others who yearn for Love, care and compassion.
Importantly the Resurrection of Jesus gives us Hope for all the broken people of our world at this time. The Resurrection reassures us that the dead are not lost and that the day of Peace and Justice is possible. The Resurrection of Jesus challenges the prophets of doom and gloom to change course and to discover that all is not lost. The Resurrection of Jesus gives us new energy to trust that He can make all things new - our own lives, all of Creation, our Parishes, our Church, our World. Let us celebrate the resurrection with Thanksgiving , Joy and Hope. Let us bring the light of this Feast to all we meet today and in the days ahead.
During Lent we prayed the way of the Cross -the fourteen stations - every Tuesday followed by that very popular soup! To conclude here are fourteen thank you's to the Lord taken from last years Way of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday…
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the meekness that overwhelms arrogance.
Thank you, for the courage with which you embraced the cross.
Thank you, for the peace that flows from your wounds.
Thank you, for having given us your holy Mother to be our Mother as well.
Thank you, for the love shown in the face of betrayal.
Thank you, for turning tears into smiles.
Thank you, for having loved everyone without excluding anyone.
Thank you, for the hope you instil in time of trial.
Thank you, for the mercy that heals sufferings.
Thank you, for stripping yourself of everything to enrich us.
Thank you, for having transformed the cross into the tree of life.
Thank you, for the forgiveness you offered your executioners.
Thank you, for having defeated death.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the light you kindled in our nights.
In reconciling all divisions, you made us all brothers and sisters, children of the same Father who is in heaven.
